The Indo-American Arts Council’s Literary Festival in New York City hosted the launch of Yakub Mathew’s debut anthology, Seeking the Infinite: Maha Kumbh 2025, on November 16, 2025, at the International House. 

The event drew seekers, scholars, and observers from around the world, offering what organizers described as a profound exploration of faith, transcendence, and the spiritual legacy of India’s Maha Kumbh Mela.

Sadhguru presided over the book’s unveiling, accepting a copy of the anthology before a packed audience of more than 600 people in Davis Hall. The launch set the stage for an engaging, reflective panel discussion moderated by branding consultant Suhel Seth.

The panel included Harvard scholar Diana Eck, Rabbi Scott Matous of the All Faiths Seminary International, spiritual master Gurudev Sri Anish, and the Very Rev. Winnie Varghese, Dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. The discussion maintained a tone of open inquiry and interfaith dialogue.

Seeking the Infinite is positioned as more than a traditional collection of essays. It is described as “a living chronicle of spiritual encounters where faith traditions meet in humility and the sacred becomes a shared language.” Through essays, conversations, and personal reflections, the anthology seeks to shift perspectives on the Maha Kumbh Mela, encouraging readers to see it not simply as a spectacle but as a “crucible of human yearning—for meaning, belonging, and transcendence,” added a statement from the organizers. 

Praising its pluralistic spirit, Diana Eck remarked, “You invite them to share their own… it’s multi-vocal with lots of different voices… it brings together your own sense of the importance of attenuating the differences between religions to a real interfaith vision.”

The anthology includes contributions from more than fifty prominent voices. Its foreword, written jointly by Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Muzaffar Ali, and Anupam Kher, offers additional depth. Tharoor notes, “This coffee-table book is more than a collection of photographs; it is a window into the very essence—Mahima—of the Maha Kumbh. Here, each spread invites the reader to pause, to feel, and to remember that the search for the divine is both an inward journey and an outward celebration of our shared humanity.”

Guided by Seth, the panel explored themes at the intersection of religion and spirituality. Seth posed a provocative question: “If you were given a choice, would you want the person to be religious or spiritual? You can only choose one…” The question prompted a range of thoughtful responses.

Rabbi Scott Matous emphasized the relationship between faith and compassion. “When I give charity before I pray, when I give a helping hand, when I visit the sick, when I give honor to my parents, when I share love to a stranger. I’m connecting to God, because we are considered b’tzelem Elohim, the image of God.”

Gurudev Sri Anish underscored the value of inquiry. “Any system which kills the spirit of inquiry in asking questions… that doesn’t work. That’s when religion loses. If your version of religion or truth makes you transformational… your version of religion is working.”

Rev. Winnie Varghese offered a nuanced perspective on institutional religion. “Religion is used as a tool of social control, absolutely, and generates violence from conflict… but I actually think it comes, obviously, from a very pure place. I’m trying to say something true about human experience.”

The Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj concluded in February 2025 after 45 days of ceremonies and ritual observances. Government estimates indicate that more than 660 million pilgrims visited the Triveni Sangam for the sacred dip, underscoring the scale and spiritual significance of the gathering.

Reflecting on his own journey, Mathew shared, “In January 2025, I fulfilled a lifelong dream by embarking on a pilgrimage to Prayagraj for the once-in-144-years Maha Kumbh, where the sacred rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati meet. Joined by my wife and seventeen dear friends from across the globe, the experience became a profound celebration of the completion of my 60th year and a spiritual journey that inspired deep reflection on life’s eternal questions.”

The book has been endorsed by several revered spiritual leaders, including The Dalai Lama, Sadhguru, Maharaj Avadheshanand Giri Ji, Cardinal Oswald Gracias, and Maharaj Radhanath Swami Ji. Their blessings, along with the diverse voices present at the launch, highlight the anthology’s interfaith ethos.

In Mathew’s own words, “The Infinite is not a place to reach. But a truth to remember—that within you lies a horizon without end.”

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