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Kumbh Mela
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Kumbh Mela is a mass Hindu pilgrimage
in which Hindus gather at the meeting place of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and
mythical Sarasvati, at Prayag where bathing for purification from sin is
considered especially auspicious. The festival is billed as the "biggest
gathering on Earth"; in 2001 more than 40 million gathered on the busiest of
its 55 days.
The Ardh (half) Kumbh Mela is celebrated every six years at Haridwar and
Allahabad, the Purna (complete) Kumbh takes place every twelve years, at
four places Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik. The Mela alternates
between Nasik, Allahabad, Ujjain and Haridwar every three years
According to the Mela Administration's estimates, around 70 million people
participated in the 45-day Ardh Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, in 2007.
The current Maha Kumbh Mela began on 14 January, 2013 at Allahabad (Prayag).
According to expectations more than 100 million people will attend the 2013
Kumbha mela.
The next Kumbh will be held at Ujjain (MP) on the bank of river Shipra in
2016. The Kumbh at Ujjain is also called "Simhastha".
Duration: Kumbh Mela is organized every
three years on a rotation basis of Allahabad, Nashik or Nasik, Haridwar and
Ujjain.
Kumbha Mela: Held at all the four places
Ardha Kumbha Mela: Held at Haridwar and Prayag (Allahabad), every six year
Purna Kumbha Mela: Only at Prayag, every twelve year
Maha Kumbha Mela: Only at Prayag, every 144 year
History: The first written evidence of
the Kumbha Mela can be found in the accounts of Chinese traveler, Huan Tsang or
Xuanzang (602 - 664 A.D.) who visited India in 629 -645 CE, during the reign of
King Harshavardhana. However, similar observances date back many centuries,
where the river festivals first started getting organised. According to medieval
Hindu theology, its origin is found in one of the most popular medieval puranas,
the Bhagavata Purana. The Samudra manthan episode (Churning of the ocean of
milk), is mentioned in the Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu Purana, the Mahabharata, and
the Ramayana.
The account goes that the demigods had lost their strength by the curse of
Durväsä Muni, and to regain it, they approached Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva. They
directed all the demigods to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Vishnu
(full story on kumbh mela) and after praying to Lord Vishnu, he instructed them
to churn the ocean of milk Ksheera Sagara (primordial ocean of milk) to receive
amrita (the nectar of immortality). This required them to make a temporary
agreement with their arch enemies, the demons or Asuras, to work together with a
promise of sharing the wealth equally thereafter. However, when the Kumbha (urn)
containing the amrita appeared, a fight ensued. For twelve days and twelve
nights (equivalent to twelve human years) the gods and demons fought in the sky
for the pot of amrita. It is believed that during the battle, Lord Vishnu
(incarnated as Mohini-Mürti) flew away with the Kumbha of elixir spilling drops
of amrita at four places: Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik.
The rituals: The major event of the
festival is ritual bathing at the banks of the river in whichever town it is
being held that is, Ganga in Haridwar, Godavari in Nasik, Kshipra in Ujjain and
Sangam (confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati) in Prayag
(Allahabad). Nasik has registered maximum visitor to 75 million. Other
activities include religious discussions, devotional singing, mass feeding of
holy men and women and the poor, and religious assemblies where doctrines are
debated and standardized.
Most significant days of Kumbh Mela:
Makar Sankranti
A Holy bath during this period carries special significance. Those who take a
holy bath in the rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri acquire
pious credits.
Paush Purnima
The day occurs when the moon is full in the Hindu month of Paush. This is the
last full moon of winter. By this time, the sadhu and hundreds of thousands of
pilgrims arrive at the Kumbh Mela.
Mauni Amavasya Snan
For the holy men and women, this is the main bathing day. New members to various
holy monastic orders receive their first initiation on this day.
Basant Panchami Snan
This is the fifth day of the luminous half of the lunar month and is the
beginning of spring in North India.
Rath Saptami Snan
Rath Saptami festival is observed on the seventh day of Shukla Paksha in the
Magh Month (January – February) in the traditional Hindu calendar.
Bhishma Ekadasi Snan
On this day, Bhishma Pithamaha, the oldest, wisest, most powerful and most
righteous person belonging to the Kuru dynasty (approx. over 5000 years ago),
narrated the greatness of Lord Krishna through Sri Vishnu Sahasranama to
Yudhishtira, the oldest brother of Pandavas.
( Courtesy: Wikkipedia)
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