Mahakumbh Nagar, Jan. 26 -- The Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj is not just a spiritual event for millions of pilgrims but also a magnet for thousands of beggars, many employing creative or deceitful tactics to evoke sympathy and collect alms.
At Sangam Ghat, a woman sat near the water's edge, writhing in apparent pain while displaying a deep wound on her hand. With a plate placed before her, she repeatedly raised her injured hand, attracting a steady stream of coins, notes, and even grains from pilgrims. By evening, she packed her grains into a sack with the help of a man and quietly disappeared, her tactics carefully crafted to draw the maximum charity from those moved by the spirit of giving.
Pilgrims, however, seem unfazed by the questio...