Kumbh Mela Religious Festival – Hindu Astha ka paratik
Kumbh Mela, also called Kumbha Mela, in Hinduism, religious festival that is
celebrated four times over the course of 12 years.
The site of the observance rotating between four pilgrimage places on four sacred rivers.
Haridwar on the Ganges River, at Ujjain on the Shipra, at Nashik on the Godavari,
and at Prayagraj at the confluence of the Ganges, the Jamuna, and the mythical Sarasvati.
Each site’s celebration is based on a distinct set of astrological positions of the Sun,
the Moon, and Jupiter, the holiest time occurring at the exact moment when these positions are fully occupied.
The Kumbh Mela at Prayag, in particular, attracts millions of pilgrims.
In addition, a Great Kumbh Mela festival is held every 144 years at Prayagraj, most recently in 2001.
The Kumbh Mela lasts several weeks and is one of the largest festivals in the world,
attracting more than 200 million people in 2019, including 50 million on the festival’s most auspicious day.
People at Kumbh Mela come from all sections of Hindu religious life,
ranging from Nanga sadhus, who remain naked year.
The Maha Kumbh Mela is the largest religious congregation in India, attended by millions.
The massive tented township complete with cottages, huts, platforms, civic facilities, administrative and security measures are build. The Government, local authorities and the police organize this Mela immaculately.
Kumbh mela is especially renowned for the presence of an extraordinary array of religious ascetics
sadhus and mahants from remote hideaways in forests, mountains and caves.
Kumbh Mela Religious Festival – interesting stories click here
Once astrologers have determined the propitious bathing time or Kumbhayog, the first to hit
the water is by legions of Naga Sadhus or Naga Babas, who cover their naked bodies
with ash and wear hair in long dreadlocks.
The sadhus, (guardians of the faith) approach the confluence at the scheduled time
with all the pomp and bravado of a charging army.
Last MahaKumbh Mela was held in 2013 The next is due in 2025.
Sangham : Where the brown water of the Ganga meets the green water of the Yamuna,
along with the mythical Saraswati. Saraswati which remains unseen so far but believed to
run underground. It is located about 7 km from Civil Lines, overlooked by the eastern ramparts of the Akbar Fort.
Wide flood plains and muddy banks protrude towards the sacred Sangam. At the mid-river point priests perform puja and assist the devout in their ritual washing in the shallow waters.
A dip in the Sangam water is the holiest of the holy pilgrimages for the devout Hindu. Rented boats are available at Sangam for pilgrims and tourists alike at the ghat near the fort.
During the MahaKumbh / Kumbh that the Sangam truly comes alive,
attracting the devout from all across the country.
