One of the greatest sacred Hindu fairs, the Kumbh
Mela witnesses the assemblage of an astounding number of pilgrims
belonging to the Hindu community. With its religious spirit, multitudes
of devotees, observance of holy rituals, ceremonial dip in the water and
groups of holy men - the Kumbh Mela is a phenomenon to be experienced
personally. In recent years, the fair has captured international
interest with hundreds of foreign tourists coming to have a first-hand
experience of it. Read all about the splendid occasion that Kumbh Mela
is. To share it with your friends, please
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Every year, periodical or annual fairs are held on river banks,
lake-shores, beaches and sacred places by pious Hindus to
commemorate important events mentioned in their sacred
scriptures or in honour of their Gods or Goddesses. This is
observed in almost every state of India.
The observance of Kumbh Mela is believed to have started
thousands of years ago, in the Vedic period. The ancient Vedic
text of "Çrémad-Bhägavatam" describes how in the early days of
creation demigods and demons made a temporary agreement to churn
the Ksheera Sagara (primordial ocean of milk) together for the
amrit (the nectar of immortality) and to share the nectar
equally. However, on the sight of the Amrita-Kumbh (urn of
nectar), the two sides engaged themselves in a fierce battle for
its possession. In this battle that continued for twelve days
and twelve nights (equivalent to twelve human years), drops of
the sacred amrita is believed to have spilled over to four place
on earth - Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik.
Therefore these four locations are considered holy by the Hindus
and they observe the Kumbh Mela at these four locations to
commemorate this legend of the Amrita-Kumbh and take a bath in
the adjoining rivers. In Nashik it is held on the banks of the
River Godavari, River Ganga in Haridwar, River Shipra in Ujjain
and the confluence of the three rivers Ganga, Yamuna and
Saraswati at Allahabad or Prayag (ancient name) in India. The
Purna Kumbh or Maha Kumbh, the biggest and the most auspicious
fair, is held once every 12 years in one particular place and
every fourth year on all the four places by rotation. Around 60
million people is said to attend the Maha Kumbh Mela, making it
the largest gathering anywhere in the world.
The
most important ritual of the Kumbh Mela is the ceremonial dip in
the water. At Nasik, the pilgrims bathe in the Godavari River;
at Ujjain, in the River Shipra; at Haridwar, in the River
Ganges; and at Allahabad, in the confluence of the rivers
Ganges, Yamunä, and Sarasvati.
The pious Hindus believe that simply taking a bath in the holy
waters of these places frees them and their ancestors back to
the eighty-eighth generation from their past sins (karma). They
hold that taking bath makes them and their ancestors eligible
for liberation from the cycle of birth and death and ensures
their salvation. Of course a pure lifestyle is also to be
maintained after taking bath, otherwise nothing comes of this
ritual. The ritual of bathing is carried out in the open and
ideally on the banks of a river or stream with complete
submergence of the body under water. Afterwards, an oblation is
made to the sun god. The new moon day is held to be the most
auspicious day for the ritual bath at Kumbh.
Kumbh Mela in India is attended by pilgrims coming from all
walks of life. Many of these people often travel long distances
to come to these places, tolerating many physical discomforts
such as sleeping in the open air in near freezing weather.
They
willingly bear these difficulties just to have the chance of
taking a bath in the sacred river at Kumbh Mela. The fair,
however, is incomplete without the presence of the ascetics and
sadhus. The Nagas, Urdhwavahurs, Parivrajakas, Shirshasins and
Kalpvasis are a common sight at Kumbh Mela. These holy men or
sadhus initiate the ritual bath at Kumbh Mela. Many of the
devout Hindus assembled at Kumbh touch their feet and listen to
them in the hope of gaining spiritual knowledge. This is
followed by the collective dip in the holy waters. After the
bath, the pilgrims wear new clothes and move to the riverbanks
to perform puja.
Over the years, the importance of the Kumbh Mela has risen
several times. In present times, the fair is attended by
millions of pilgrims and tourists from all over the world. For a
vast majority of people, it is once-in-a-lifetime trip. For
thousands of traders, shopkeepers and businessmen it is the time
for some brisk business.