The Mahakumbh, apart from people coming to bathe in the Ganges, also draws in saints and religious leaders with differing ideologies discussed in an open forums. These discourses are called Pravachans. They discourse to the pilgrims on various aspects of life, from stories mentioned in Hindu mythology to astrological interventions in performing religious rites to techniques on effectively dealing with the problems in one’s life.

For instance, Swami Swaroopananda of the Chinmaya Mission focuses his discourses on management of one’s life, broadly discussing the nature, effects and treatment for grappling with one grief, stress, anxiety and human relationships. He also lends spiritual advice to his devotees, on wealth management and the art of positive parenting.

Swami Sarvadanand Saraswati of the Naradanand Ashram reflects more on the other-worldly aspects of life. The topics range from the concept of rebirth to the proper place to be given to worldly pleasures in a human’s life.

According to him, a person trudging on the path of truth and wisdom should consider death a new beginning, in the cycle of life and rebirth.‘ You should think about death all the time-- every person taking mortal form is bound to trek the worldly path of life which would ultimately culminate in death. Hence, proximity to the Supreme Being is as necessary for one’s soul, as oxygen for living.’ The Swami also says, ‘Death for humans brings about a change in his Chola (change of form of his existence).

Pilot Baba- an former Indian Air Force fighter pilot turned yogi - opines on topics from national integration to world peace in his daily discourses. Having lost interest in worldly pleasures more than a decade before, he frames his lectures more around the realisation of one’s inner self through meditation, and how this gets you nearer the divine. He advises people to eschew the traditional path, to have the courage to revolt against the past.

Adding: ‘Only an individual having the courage to sideline the crowd-mentality can discover his inner innocence, the pathway to God.’ Regardless it helps to talk about it with a sage.