by Bharati Abrol, Netherlands
No ‘Why’ questions
During the satsang at the Kumbh, I asked Mohanji:
“Mohanji, you just said that there is a reason for all of us being able to come to this Maha Kumbh Mela. Is that reason different for everyone, or is there a deeper, underlying reason why we are here?”
As I looked at Mohanji while he answered, my spine started burning, and my cells seemed to vibrate. I can only recall fragments of his response because I was mesmerized by Mohanji’s gaze and the palpable reaction in my being. In essence, he advised against asking “why” questions—because whatever happens happens because it has to. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have happened. We were all there for a reason, and that was enough. Experiencing life was far more important than analyzing it.
Experience it, I did—fully and profoundly!
A Journey That Almost Didn’t Happen
For me, just being at the Kumbh was unexpected and nothing short of a miracle—and with my husband, no less! That he would ever join me in a Mohanji retreat was something I had not even dreamed of.
In fact, ever since November 2023, when Mohanji suggested Mohanam as the title for the book I was writing—and later explained it would also be the theme of his 60th birthday—I had dreamed of attending his birthday celebration. It felt like the perfect occasion for the book release.
But my excitement faded when I learned that the celebration would take place at the Maha Kumbh Mela. Big gatherings had never attracted me. The crowds, sleeping in tents, unknown territory, coldness, fear of blood clotting due to my blood disease, financial problems – there were simply too many obstacles.
When Mohanam was officially launched during Gurupoornima in Scotland in July 2024, I almost completely let go of going to the Kumbh. Actually, I was relieved.
Yet, a small ache remained in the background—missing Mohanji’s 60th birthday.
But, adding to the uncertainty, my only daughter was pregnant, expecting her baby in the second half of January 2025. Not knowing how things would unfold for her and our family, I was content with not having to think about such a vast undertaking. With Mohanam safely and beautifully launched, I felt at peace.
Then, in November 2024, during an interview in Bangalore, Mohanji casually asked about my plans and whether I was coming to the Kumbh. I didn’t take it as a mere question—I heard it as a gentle yet firm command from my Guru.
When I asked my husband whether he would be willing to join me, he replied, “Why?” and I said, “Because I need you to be my bodyguard.”
Being Indian and spiritually inclined, he had already seen several reels about the upcoming Kumbh and was curious, so he agreed, even though he was not a Mohanji devotee. But the biggest uncertainty remained—our daughter’s delivery. I needed to be sure I would be there for her if she needed me, so I postponed our booking. By the time I was ready to make the booking, accommodations for the days around Mohanji’s birthday were gone.
Then, grace stepped in. We were told that we could still come. My beautiful granddaughter, Amaya, was born on January 18th, and everything went smoothly for both mother and child. With no more obstacles, the path to the Kumbh was clear.
A Surprise Book Launch
After the book launch in Scotland, Mohanam had gone through a thorough revision and was reprinted. The Scotland presentation came so unexpectedly that we didn’t have time for proper editing, and Subhasree had some great suggestions afterwards.
With two copies of the revised version in my suitcase, I was hoping for a chance to take a photo with Mohanji and the book during one of those moments when participants can ask for blessings on sacred items.
I asked Subhasree when such a moment might be. “Nothing official,” I added—”I just want to know which day to bring the book to the satsang hall.”
“Give me a copy; maybe we can even do another official launch. Let me ask”, she said with a mysterious smile.
On the morning of the 22nd, I happened to check my phone—a rare occurrence during those days—and saw a fresh message in the Kumbh Mela group:
“Anyone who wants to wish Mohanji a happy birthday, please assemble in front of the office.”
The message had been posted just a minute earlier! What a coincidence.
I quickly found my husband, and we both joined the line—though, to our surprise, there was only one person before us. Unfortunately, I had not anticipated this, so I didn’t carry a copy of Mohanam with me. When it was our turn, Mohanji received us with a warm smile. My overjoyed husband asked some meaningful questions, and I asked when would be the best time to take a photo with Mohanam. Since I hadn’t heard anything from Subhasree, I assumed another book launch was too much to hope for.
“Tomorrow, during the celebrations, we will definitely find time,” Mohanji assured me.
We were over the moon with our unexpected one-on-one moment.
Then, on the 23rd, the unexpected happened.
Mohanam was there – in a pile of books that were officially launched that day! At first, I didn’t see it, so I assumed that Subhasree’s request had been rejected. But she assured me that it was there.
And not only that. Each of us was called on stage and invited to speak.
An honour, but scary. Almost everyone is afraid of public speaking, especially those with a fear of failure.
Mohanji always puts you on the spot and makes you bypass your fears. With him, going with the flow isn’t just a saying—it’s a way of life that He is making us experience.
More Stage Fears
That night, I unexpectedly appeared on stage two more times. With a small team, we practised a bhajan to open the program and a traditional Indian song called Qawwali. I had expected to sit on the floor, but we were told to sit on the stage at the last minute instead.
The sudden change and an already troubled stomach made me so nervous that I threw up just minutes before we started.
We had neither the time to perfect our harmony nor to properly learn the complicated lyrics, and we couldn’t even do a sound check with the microphones. I had suggested that our lead singer perform alone to ensure the song would be pleasing to Mohanji’s ears and not turn into an unprofessional embarrassment, but no one wanted to listen. “A Qawwali is meant to be performed by a group,” they said.
The dress rehearsal was a disaster for me. The few minutes we were given weren’t enough to run through the entire song even once, and it was the first time we saw the complete (and rather complicated) lyrics. It wasn’t enough for me. To feel secure, I needed more detailed practise.
Luckily, there weren’t enough microphones for everyone, so I gave mine to the best singer among us and held up the lyrics on my phone for her since hers had run out of battery. I was relieved to sing in the choir without hearing my own voice—I felt one with the group anyway.
The fact that I was able to sing an unfamiliar song with such beautiful souls on Mohanji’s birthday, in front of Mohanji himself, was more than enough of a challenge—and more than enough of an honour.
In the end, everything worked out fine. As we stepped off the stage, Mohanji smiled, and I could tell he was happy.
The Answer to My Question
While travelling home, I reflected on everything that had happened. More than ever, I felt that Mohanji helps each one of us become the best version of our unique selves.
If I had to answer the question “Why this journey to the Kumbh?” from experience, I would say:
It made me feel truly, deeply alive.
|| JAI BRAHMARISHI MOHANJI ||
Edited & Published by – Testimonials Team, 1st May 2025
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