He was informed about the ban but, upon his insistence on seeing Baba, Baba came out of his hut and put his head on the man's feet. Thus, even though Baba did not go out for contacts that day, he did have Mr. Mehta's darshan.
In the blackness of the very early morning of the 3rd at 3:00 A.M., Baba left Motichur for Hardwar on foot, accompanied by Eruch, Pendu, Baidul and Gustadji. Near the area of Nildhara, he contacted renunciants and sadhus, bending down and touching the feet of each for eleven continuous hours. The total number that day was an overwhelming figure — 2,965!
Baba led the men, walking about 20 miles for these contacts on both sides of the Ganges. By the time he had finished, he was so fatigued that he could hardly stand. The companions tried to find a bus or truck to take them back, but finding no conveyance available, they had to trudge wearily back to Motichur.
On the way, Baba lamented, "My whole body is aching terribly."
Though physically exhausted, the next morning, Tuesday, 4 April 1950, Baba led the four companions to the area of Balawala, where he contacted 338 more holy men who had recently come there from other places. At Balawala, the total number of contacts reached 10,000. When Pendu informed Baba of this, Baba expressed his satisfaction with his labors and said that he was highly gratified.
Of the 10,000 "holy men" it was felt by the four men present that only a handful were true saints or advanced souls. "Those sadhus and pilgrims who came from all over India to attend the Kumbha Mela," noted Age, "did indeed have God's darshan, though few knew who was in their midst. God Himself became a seeker and bowed his head at the feet of thousands, but they did not recognize him."
When Baba returned to Motichur, they ate their simple meal of rice and dal, and rested a while, and then Baba began packing to leave.
That night he announced, "My work at the Kumbha Mela is over. I will leave for Manjri Mafi tomorrow. You all come with the baggage on the 7th, and Pendu and Murli will follow in the bullock cart."
Baba was still unwell, and now had a cold and cough. That night he himself packed his things, and was ready to leave.
Baba left Motichur for Manjri Mafi with Pendu on 5 April.