Pilgrims healthy after Kumbh: study

The study said that they would have returned even healthier if the Ganga was cleaner.

Allahabad: 
A recent study has revealed that rural pilgrims who live in congregations, including the Kumbh, near the Sangam area in Allahabad return home healthier.

Sangam is the confluence of rivers Ganga, Yamuna and mystical Saraswati.

The study, conducted by social psychologists from British and Indian universities found that kalpwasis, rural pilgrims, are healthier despite the fact that they eat just one meal a day.

The study adds on to say that they would have returned even healthier if the Ganga was cleaner.

A total of 543 respondents were reviewed on the parameters of health and noise over the last four Kumbh fairs at Allahabad.

It was found that 416 people who lived in congregations on the banks of the Sangam were in better health than the 127 who did not.

These finding were published in the US-based international journal PLOS ONE (Public Library of Science).

"Although people may think that kalpwasis live in messy, unhygienic or unhealthy conditions such as the Mahakumbh or the Magh Melas for an entire month, in actual fact, their health improves,'' said Narayan Srinivasan of Allahabad University, who was involved in the study.

He said that participation in such fairs was found to have enhanced the physical well-being of participants as they reported less stress-related problems like headaches and other pains.

UK-based Economic & Social Research Council had sponsored the project and Nick Hopkins of the University of Dundee, UK, led it.

He said that kalpwasis experience noise in a very different way; they associate it with the fair and satisfaction.

"What might be unpleasant in everyday life is cherished by the kalpwasis as an affirmation of their faith,'' said Srinivasan.

Explaining the methodology, research director Shruti Tiwari of Allahabad University, said, "The subjects were studied before, during and after the fairs. A team of 11 field investigators interviewed around 1,000 participants from 90 villages. Two social scientists lived with Kalpwasis and observed their routine.”

Source: times of india