As Kalpvas is set to conclude on Magh Purnima on Wednesday, February 12, ‘Water Woman’ Shipra Pathak, says, “more than a ritualistic bath—it’s a journey of sadhana (spiritual discipline), seva (selfless service), and samanvay (harmony).”
Pathak, who is also observing Kalpvas this year, added: “Kalpvasis come here not only for their own virtue and salvation but also to assist fellow devotees. The discipline of Kalpvas requires one to sleep on the ground, teaching individuals to endure both winter’s chill and summer’s heat.”
Shipra Pathak explains, “This penance strengthens our ability to face life’s struggles with patience and dedication. It symbolizes a way of life, reminding us that whether we encounter hardships or comforting moments, we must remain steady and absorb the experience with equanimity.”
She further adds that Hatha Yoga during Kalpvas conditions the body in such a way that the mind naturally adapts to challenges.
Highlighting the essence of Mahakumbh, she emphasized that true spiritual fulfillment is attained only when one moves beyond personal virtue and salvation to serve others selflessly.
Notably, during Kalpvas, Shipra Pathak made a special effort to honor and assist priests, acharyas, storekeepers, and sanitation workers at the camp. She personally cooked meals with them, served them, and took time to understand their concerns.
She is also actively promoting cleanliness in Mahakumbh through the ‘Ek Thaila, Ek Thali’ campaign. So far, 15 lakh plates, 16 lakh bags, and 4 lakh glasses have been distributed to encourage environmental and river cleanliness.
On Tuesday, she handed over 500 bags to Mother Dairy, aiming to eliminate polythene use in Mahakumbh. She urged shopkeepers to encourage customers to reuse these bags, ensuring that small efforts collectively make Kumbh a polythene-free zone.
