Dressed in a green sarong and pyjamas, Anni Holopainen does not know much about the nitty-gritty of the religious festival but is nevertheless very eager to visit the Mela.

A resident of Finland, 30-year-old Anni’s appearance might indicate that she is greatly influenced by Indian traditions and rituals of spirituality and mysticism. But its fashion that dictates what she wears.

She was found roaming around at Babughat where hundreds of pilgrims heading for the Gangasagar Mela camp before their journey.

Enthralled by the customs and traditions of Indian religions, Anni has already visited other spiritual festivals in places like Hrishikesh and Haridwar.

“This is my third visit to Kolkata. This city is my home and I am a social worker here,” said Anni.

“Today, I am spellbound by the entire charm and romanticism that surrounds Gangasagar Mela and the thousands of sages that I have met at Babughat,” she added.

Anni’s interest and passion for social work might have drawn her to the city and to other places in India, but as she roams around observing the mystics, she is eagerly waiting to get a first hand feel of the Mela on Sagar island.

“I am so excited about the Gangasagar Mela. Since I dress like the sages and my hair is tied like that of the saints, many people call me the foreign Sai Baba. For us, this is a style but for people out here it means so much more,” said Anni.

Not interested in any particular Indian religion, Anni recalls how she is more attracted to the spiritual aspects of different religions.

At Gangasagar, she plans to carefully observe the customs and practices that the pilgrims follow.

“I am quite curious to know, learn and take back with me memories of traditional Indian rituals. I love wearing the orange gown that the sages here wear not because I know much about it but because I think the colour orange is positive and fresh,” said Anni.

After the Gangasagar trip, Anni plans to stop in Nepal next for yet another spiritual experience.