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Mahakumbh-inspired book wins top honor at Canada literature festival
Mathew, who is based in New York, wrote the book as a reflection on his experience attending the Maha Kumbh gathering with friends from different religious and cultural backgrounds
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Staff Reporter - Tue, 26, May 2026
- 01:25 EDT
- 25
The festival said the award recognized both the book’s literary approach and its cultural impact. / Courtesy photo
Indian American author Yakub Mathew’s book, ‘Seeking the Infinite: MahaKumbh 2025,’ received the Creative Book of the Year Award at the 2026 Canada Literature Festival held in Brampton, Ontario, on May 14.
The award was presented during the festival organized by the Indo-Canada Arts Council, which was founded in 2014. The recognition honored the book’s exploration of faith, philosophy and spirituality through the lens of the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayag, also known as Allahabad.
Mathew, who is based in New York, wrote the book as a reflection on his experience attending the Maha Kumbh gathering with friends from different religious and cultural backgrounds. The book combines narrative, photography and philosophical reflections centered on questions of existence, consciousness and faith.
According to festival organizers, the work was recognized for contributing to cross-cultural dialogue and contemporary literature. The Canada Literature Festival said its mission is rooted in the idea that “stories travel. They cross borders, languages, and generations, shaping how we see the world and each other.”
‘Seeking the Infinite’ draws from the Maha Kumbh Mela of 2025, described in the festival material as one of the world’s largest spiritual gatherings. The book documents the journey while examining broader themes related to identity, meaning and spirituality.
The author said the experience prompted deeper reflection on fundamental questions. “Who am I? What is the nature of consciousness? What is the purpose of existence?” Mathew said in remarks referenced by the festival.
Festival organizers described the book as more than a travel narrative. In festival literature, the work was called a “meditation on faith, humanity, and the eternal questions that define us.”
The book also includes reflections from contributors representing different faiths and traditions. Organizers said that collaborative aspect helped distinguish the work and broaden its appeal to international audiences.
Mathew works as managing director at Wells Fargo Advisors and described himself as an “accidental author” whose move into writing emerged from personal experiences connected to the Maha Kumbh journey.
The festival said the award recognized both the book’s literary approach and its cultural impact. Organizers also noted the growing visibility of Indian diaspora writers in global literary spaces.
The Canada Literature Festival described itself as a “meeting point of cultures and conversations,” and said the recognition of Mathew’s work reflected its focus on literature that encourages dialogue across communities and traditions.
‘Seeking the Infinite: MahaKumbh 2025’ was presented as a work centered on spirituality, introspection and shared human experience, themes organizers said continue to resonate with readers across cultural boundaries.
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