About Kumbh Mela
Kumbha a Sanskrit word for Pitcher, sometimes referred to as the Kalasha, it is also a zodiac sign in Indian astrology for Aquarius, the sign under which the festival is celebrated, while Mela means 'a gathering' or 'a meet', or simply a fair. According to astrologers, the 'Kumbh Fair' takes place when the planet Jupiter enters Aquarius and the Sun enters Aries. Kumbha (Kumbha means pot) Mela (means fair) is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage. It takes place at the following four locations of India: Prayag,Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh) , Haridwar(Uttarakhand) , Ujjain(Madhya Pradesh) , Nasik (Maharashtra) The main & common reason for one to attend the holy festival of Kumbh Mela is to take dip in Holy river. It is said that a holy dip in sacred rivers during Maha Kumbh or Ardh Kumbh takes human out of the circle of life & death ( stage known as Moksha ). |
Pilgrims & Sadhus in great number from around the world visit here to liberate themselves. Holy rivers like Ganges , Yamuna & celestial Sarawati at Parayag ( Sangam at Allahbad ) is age old symbol of Indian Culture & Civilization. These river offers purity, wealth, fertility and wash away the sins of those who bath in it. The last Kumbh Mela was hosted at Allahbad in Jan 2007 during the months of Jan - Feb. During this 45 days carnival, more than 65 million Hindu pilgrims took part and make it the largest gathering. This Kumbh Mela is going to take place at Haridwar in 2010 from 1st January – 30 April.
Dates of bathing ceremonies and Venues of forth coming melas are as follows: |
Haridwar (Kumbh mela) in the year 2010 (March-April), April 14th is the main bathing date.
Prayag (Purna Kumbh Mela) in the year 2013 (January 27-February 25), 10th is the main bathing date.
Nashik (Ardh Kumbh Mela) in 2015 (August 15 to September 13), Sep 13 is the main date for bathing ceremony.
Ujjain (Ardh Kumbh Mela) in 2016 (April 22 to May 21), May 21 is the main bathing date. |
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The origin of the Kumbh is very old and dates back to the time when Kalasha (pot of nectar of immortality) was recovered from Samudramanthan (during the churning of the primordial sea), for which a tense war between Devtas (Gods) and Asuras (Demons) ensued. To prevent the Amrita Kalasha being forcibly taken into possession by Asuras, who were more powerful than Devtas, its safety was entrusted to the Devtas Brahaspati, Surya, Chandra and Shani. The four Devtas ran away with the Amrita Kalasha to hide it from the Asuras. Learning the conspiracy of Devtas, Asuras turned ferocious and chased the 4 Devtas running with Amrita Kalasha. The chase, lasted 12 days and nights during which the Devtas and Asuras went round the earth and during this chase, Devtas put Amrita Kalasha at Haridwar, Prayag, Ujjain and Nasik.
To commemorate this holy event of the Amrita Kalasha 12 years.According to other Pauranic legends, actual fight in the Amrita Kalash being knocked, out of which Amrita being put at 4 places, Kumbh is celebrated every took place between Devtas and Asuras resulting (Nectar) fell down at the above 4 places.
Finally, when the demigods came to the rescue, they hid the nectar in four different places. While doing so, the demi gods happened to spill a drop of this nectar fell down on earth. Blessed by this drop of nectar, four sacred sites came into being, one among these being Haridwar itself. Therefore, astrologers also have the belief that the water of the Ganges attains nectar-like properties during the Kumbh Mela season in Haridwar. |
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