A Pilgrimage of Devotion, Community, and Remembering – with Ali
The previous hoisting of the flag at Simhastha Kumbha Mela in Trimbakeshwar (Nashik), 2013 (photos by Ali)
The Call of India
Some journeys are more than travelling for a leisurely holiday. They are a return to places and events that have defined us.
India and I have had a longstanding relationship. If you love India, India loves you right back. It is the unpredictability, vibrancy and richness of different cultures within India that infuse you with something unexplainable, and deeply meaningful.
This year’s journey feels particularly significant because it has been exactly 10 years since my Guruji passed into what is known as Mahasamadhi (a special type of afterlife absorption). Also, the sadhus (holy men) of Juna Akhara have invited me to host/fund a ceremony to mark Guruji’s remembrance. This will coincide with the hoisting of the flag at Simhastha Kumbha Mela in Trimbakeshwar (Nashik) on October 31st, 2026. Last time I was there it was with Guruji and as you can see it was pretty intense.
Key message: India isn’t simply a travel destination, it becomes part of your spiritual inner landscape. Kumbha Mela is also a place and time dedicated to resilience and austerity, community and sacred connection.
Collective Fundraising Effort
Back in July of this year, my friend Kelley and I were talking about past and future trips to India. Kelley joined us on our last group trip to India in November 2024. This time, I mentioned that I had been invited by the sadhus to commemorate Guruji, but I wasn’t financially equipped to attend without also hosting a group trip.
I had already hosted a group trip to Java in August this year, so I wasn’t quite ready for another group venture. Hosting Kiwi’s abroad is a massive endeavor involving months of planning and delivery, so in this case time wasn’t on my side. Nonetheless, duty and India were calling. Kelley suggested running a fund raiser. Great idea, I thought! Within 4 months, I had collectively raised $2000, with over 45 generous people giving what they could. This fun covered the International Flight and the cost of Guruji’s ceremony.
I was so amazed and deeply moved by the shared generosity of family, friends and NZ Yoga Centre yogis, reaffirming to me that collective effort is one of humanity’s greatest superpowers.
Photos of the fundraiser, Java, and last India trip from various sources
Honouring Guruji: Ten Years Since Mahasamadhi
Guruji was an easy-going, fun loving, and very kind person. Over the 11 years I knew him, he opened up a whole different side of India for me that what was available on the tourist trail. My experiences with rural ashram life, Kumbha Melas, pilgrimage to sacred sites all over the country, and immersion in sadhu life were only possible through his guidance and willingness. I was also able to share this knowledge of India life with all the group members I have taken to India over the last 20 years.
This time round, the significance of travelling with sadhus who shared a connection with Guruji means I will continue maintaining longstanding friendships with members of his tribe (Juna Akhada).
Key message: This group funded trip is an opportunity to honour my teacher, remember what has been received, and bolster my commitment to the path of yoga and spirituality.
3. Haridwar to Trimbakeshwar and onward
I leave NZ on Thursday 22 October and arrive in Delhi on October 23rd. I arrive in my spiritual hometown of Haridwar on 24 October. Haridwar, one of the great sacred cities of northern India and one I have been visiting for over 20 years.
Bathing the northern Ganges, visiting Maya Devi Temple, sitting with sadhus at Bhairav Ghat, allows you to be immersed in an atmosphere of pilgrimage, prayer and ritual. It also offers plenty of opportunities to reconnect with people I have known for a long time.
Many Westerners skip Haridwar mainly because nearby towns like Rishikesh cater to Western yoga tourism, offering vegan pizza, yoga teacher training courses and endless shopping opportunities. Haridwar is far more traditional, catering to mainly Indian pilgrims, yet, for me, there is something deeply alluring being there.
There is a definite contrast between Haridwar and Rishikesh – the self-proclaimed Yoga Capital of the World.
Travelling with the Sadhus: The Road to Trimbakeshwar
Around 29 October, my journey continues overland towards Trimbakeshwar, near Nashik in Maharashtra, and I’ll be travelling with a group of sadhus.This offers an opportunity to be immersed in the ascetic traditions of Juna Akhara. When you travel in the company of sadhus it is sometimes 10-12 people travelling in one vehicle, staying at ashrams, eating only dhal and rice, often with very austere surroundings. I have packed a bed roll, sleeping bag, pop up tent, bucket, and washing line just in case I need it! These sorts of trips mean you control very little and have to allow the journey to unfold as it does.
Trimbakeshwar has beautiful walks, temples and scenery so I’m sure I will fit in some interesting solo trips to sacred spots, as well as spend plenty of time in sadhu company. The Nashik–Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh begins ceremonially on 31 October 2026 with Dhwajarohan, the hoisting of sacred flags. The principal ritual bathing dates are scheduled for 2027, so this journey will witness the opening of the wider Kumbh cycle rather than participate in its major bathing days.
Key message: Sometimes the most meaningful part of a pilgrimage is not simply where we go, but who we travel with and what the experience asks of us.
Ajanta and Ellora: Art, Faith and the Sacred Imagination
After leaving Trimbakeshwar area, I plan to head to Aurangabad, now officially known as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, the town closest to the Ajanta and Ellora caves.These cave temples, with their remarkable rock-cut architecture, celebrate the extraordinary artistic achievements of India’s religious traditions.
This is the plan any anyway, I’d love to see them as it might open up a new travel route for my next group trip to India in 2027/2028. If you are keen to know more, please let me know.
From approximately 7 November, the plan is to travel northwards towards Barsana, where Guruji is buried and where his ashram still is, to celebrate Diwali with friends before returning to Delhi by 10 November.
Why I’m Sharing This Journey With You
For many years, you have shared yoga, teaching, encouragement, knowledge and opportunities for people to explore their own well being and spiritual lives. With this trip, a significant amount of people contributed money towards the airfare and the ceremony. For me this act of kindness has added deep personal, spiritual and cultural significance to the journey. Although I’ll be funding the rest of the trip throughout India, peoples’ contributions have got me there and funded a very important ritual, which is amazing. So, thank you to all of you who gave.
I have added many of you to the new NZ Yoga Centre Community page because I’ll be sharing photographs, reflections and stories as the journey unfolds, including the sacred places I visit, the people I meet and the experiences that stay with me. If you would like to join but don’t yet have an invite please message me and I’ll add you. Likewise, if I have added you but you don’t want to be included in the trip updates please feel free to leave the group.
Blessings to the journey. Om Namo Narayan!
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