The Kumbh Mela, or festival, is without doubt the greatest peaceful gathering of pilgrims on Earth. Held once every three years by rotation at Allahabad, Ujjain, Nasik and Haridwar, the Mela attracts millions of Hindu devotees not only from all four corners of India but also from the world. Of special significance is the fact that there is a large number of ascetics and Sadhus of all denominations making their presence felt at these melas.
Locations Where the Kumbh Mela is Held
Haridwar: The Kumbh Mela is held at Haridwar, one of the holiest of cities by the banks of the River Ganga when Jupiter enters Aquarius and the Sun is in Aries during the Hindu month of Chaitra occurring around March-April.
Allahabad: Allahabad by the banks of Ganga and Yamuna becomes the site for the Kumbh Mela when Jupiter transits Aries and Sun is in Aries during January-February.
Ujjain: Ujjain by the banks of Sipra River becomes the site when Jupiter enters Leo and Sun is in Aries or when Jupiter, Moon and Sun are in Libra during April-May.
Nashik: by the Godavri becomes the site when Jupiter and Sun enter Leo in August-September.
The Kumbh Mela is held only once in 12 years at any given place.
Kumbh Mela Significance
The Kumbh Mela has great religious and spiritual significance. Held at a time when conjunctions of planets are considered auspicious, the Mela sees millions bathing in the holy rivers. Bathing is said to cleanse you of your sins and free you from the eternal cycle of life and death. One who dies here on those auspicious days, so goes the belief, goes straight to heaven or attains Moksha. So deeply ingrained is this belief that the deeply religious sometimes commit suicide at these places by immersing themselves in the holy waters.
Kumbh means pot or pitcher and when Jupiter enters Aquarius it is symbolic. In a wider sense pot or pitcher also means the Earth and everything in it that is a container in itself, including the human body.
Kumbh Mela History and Legend
Kumbh Mela is as old as time. It finds mention in Vishnu Purana, Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Bhagavata Purana. According to legend the gods lost their strength and appealed to Vishnu who then directed them to churn the ocean to bring up the pot of nectar that would bestow immortality. The Gods collaborated with the demons to churn the ocean for a thousand years and managed to bring up the pot that they promised to share. However, a fight ensured since the gods wanted to keep the pot of nectar to themselves. Vishnu intervened and flew away with the pot but spilled a few drops at four places that are today the site of the Kumbh Mela. The versions vary.
Though not formally noted in historical records, the Mela has been celebrated with great religious fervour since ages. The British wrote about the Allahabad Kumbh Mela of 1870. Much before that Hiuen Tsang, the Chinese traveler, wrote about the Kumbh Mela of Allahabad held during the times of Emperor Harshvardhan around 644 CE.
Facts and Figures
The Kumbh Mela is attended by millions of Hindu devotees with the number increasing as years pass. The last Kumbh Mela in Nashik in 2015 was attended by 10 million pilgrims. Before that, in 2003, the figure was 6 million. Haridwar witnesses the maximum gathering of pilgrims. The Kumbh Mela of 1998 at Haridwar had 10 million visitors whereas the event in 2001 had 40 million pilgrims. The 2007 Allahabad Kumbh Mela had about 30 to 70 million visitors from all over the world while the 2013 Mela hosted a staggering 120 million people.
Stampedes are routine during each Mela despite the best arrangements and many people lose their lives.
Unique to the Kumbh Melas is the presence of Sadhus of all sects. The Naga Sadhus, the urdhwavahurs, shirshasins and parivajakas all attend these melas, with throngs of devotees around them.
Even though waters may be cold, millions of devotees plunge into the holy waters of the Rivers with a feeling of total bliss. It is a sight to behold and it comes around only once in 12 years. If not for the religious fervour, at least for the immersive feeling of being part of a teeming mass of humanity you must visit it once in your lifetime. There is no other experience that comes even close.
