51-year-old Vivekanand Shenoy from Taleigao recently undertook a solo bike yatra from Panaji to Prayagraj to attend the Maha Kumbh. He shares more with NT BUZZ
KALYANI JHA | NT BUZZ
The Maha Kumbh, happening in Prayagraj after 144 years, is attracting millions of devotees from across the country for a holy dip in this month. While Kumbh happens after every 12 years, Ardh Kumbh happens after every six years. Mahakumbh however is a once-in-a – lifetime opportunity
for devotees.
Claimed to be the largest gathering of humans in the world, Maha Kumbh is the congregation of spiritual devotees in the Triveni Sangam ( meeting point of three rivers), Prayagraj ( earlier known as Allahabad) in every 12 years to take a holy dip in the Ganga to be purified of their sins.
Like many other devotees, 51-year-old Vivekanand Shenoy didn’t want to miss the opportunity to get closer to the divine and planned for the ‘amrit snan’ in the Ganga on Makar Sankranti i.e.
January 14.
“Going via bus or train, had many hassles and I would not have met my January 14 deadline. So, I decided to go on a solo bike ride. As a rider, going on a bike is always freeing for me,” says Shenoy.
This is not the first Kumbh that Shenoy has attended on a bike. Back in 2013, he went for the Kumbh snan on the same Hero Honda bike. The difference this time, he states, is that he feels younger and more energetic in 2025.
“What I saw when I reached was a highly divine experience. It was an enchanting experience again after 12 years,” he shares.
Shenoy began his ride this around from Panaji on January 9. After riding over 300 km everyday he reached Triveni Sangam Prayagraj on January 13, which allowed him ‘amrit snan’ on Makar Sankranti.
In total, Shenoy covered over 4000 kilometres on his bike. Along the way, Shenoy visited and stayed in temples and ashrams. In fact, he visited all the major temples including Mahalakshmi Temple, Sholapur; Tuljabhavani Temple, Tuljapur; Ramjanmabhumi Temple, Ayodhya; and Kashi
Vishwanath Temple.
He shares that his journey was made easy because of bypasses and highways. “Riding inside the cities was avoided because of the connection of bypass roads. So I didn’t have to think too much about routes. I could focus on the ride and didn’t experience any fatigue,” he says.
He does however reveal that this time his ride was a little harder because of the fog and he only rode during the day time. “I don’t ride at night. Also in the north there is too much fog which restricts visibility. This time though in the morning till 8 or 9 there was fog and in evening also after 4 or 5 it was foggy. It is very dangerous for a two wheeler to ride on highways in fog,” he shares.
Shenoy moved according to how the climate let him every day. He didn’t decide on his destination of the day’s ride. According to how the climate was he would make his stops and carry on his journey.
An avid biker, Shenoy often goes off on solo biking trips. Every year, he goes off on his bike to the Kodichardri Hills near Mangaluru which is 4000 feet above sea level. He has been to Khardungla Pass in 2008, and has also visited all 30 centres of the Ramkrishna Mission (which he is closely associated with) in South India in 17 days.
His expertise in bikes and his adventurous persona gives him the confidence to take up long rides. “I chose this particular bike because I know the intricacies of this bike, how to repair it if something happens on the way. When you are on a solo ride there may or may not be back up on the way. You are the back up. That’s why I took this bike,” he says about his 24-years-old, 150 CC 2001
model bike.
And for all the riders who want to venture on long rides Shenoy advises proper preparation. “A stable physical and mental health is very important. Know-how of the bike you are riding is also essential. People can’t suddenly decide to go on a long ride. You should have some experience of short distance riding for some time to acclimatise for a long ride,” shares the rider.
