Dalai Lama likely to attend Kumbh Mela at Allahabad

Lucknow: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama is likely to attend the Kumbh Mela starting in the Sangam city of Allahabad on January 14, officials said on Monday.

Office bearers of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) said that the Dalai Lama was invited by Pravin Bhai Togadia, the international officiating president of the VHP, and the invite has been accepted by his office.

The Tibetan spiritual leader is expected to be in Allahabad on January 14, the auspicious day of Makar Sankranti when the Kumbh Mela would be formally inaugurated. Millions are expected to take bath on the first day of the 55-day-long Kumbh.

The VHP functionaries said many other seers from other religions also have been invited to the Kumbh.

The Dalai Lama was in Varanasi on Sunday to give sermons at Sarnath, the place where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon. The discourse would go on daily till January 10. More than 25,000 people have registered themselves for the discourse.

After concluding his sermons, the Tibetian spiritual leader would stay on in Varanasi for three more days before leaving for the Kumbh Mela, officials said.