ALLAHABAD MAHA KUMBH MELA OR FAIR

ALLAHABAD MAHA KUMBH MELA-FAIR

Kumbh Mela ( कुम्भ मेला) is a mass Hindu pilgrimage in which Hindus gather at the Sangam, 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 human gathering in the world.In 2001, more than 40 million people gathered on the main bathing day at Allahabad, breaking a world record for the biggest human gathering.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 Maha (great) Kumbh Mela which comes after 12 'Purna Kumbh Melas', or 144 years, is held at Allahabad.According to the Mela Administration's estimates, around 70 million people participated in the 45-day Ardh Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, in 2007.The previous Kumbh Mela, held in 2001 in Haridwar, was, before it occurred, estimated by the authorities to attract between 30 and 70 million people.The current Maha Kumbh Mela began on January 14th, 2013 at Prayag.

The Maha Kumbh, often described as the 'greatest show on earth', began on Monday morning with lakhs of devotees as well as ascetics and religious leaders converging on the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical river Saraswati in Allahabad for a holy dip on the occasion of Makar Sankranti.Several crore devotees and people from across the country as well as abroad are expected to attend the religious gathering. Many foreigners have also come to Allahabad to witness amazing show of Indian culture.A Russian tourist Ala and her husband Barno have decided to spend a long time in Allahabad during the Kumbh Mela. They are facing language problem but are inspired and interested in enjoying the Indian culture. Allahabad Maha Kumbh Mela is a big draw for foreigners tooNarayan, who is an Indian and working in Germany, has come with his mother to be a part of the Kumbh Mela. Narayan has been left mesmerised by the huge gathering of humanity for the Kumbh Mela and is enjoying at Sangam

Timing:

The Triveni Sangam, or the intersection of Yamuna River and Ganges River and the mythical Sarasvati River, where devotees perform rituals.Kumbh Mela is celebrated at different locations depending on the position of the planet of Bṛhaspati (Jupiter) and the sun. When Jupiter and the sun are in the zodiac sign Leo (Simha Rashi) it is held in Trimbakeshwar, Nashik; when the sun is in Aries (Mesha Rashi) it is celebrated at Haridwar; when Jupiter is in Taurus (Vrishabha Rashi ) and the sun is in Capricorn (Makar Rashi) Kumbha Mela is celebrated at Prayag; and Jupiter and the sun are in Scorpio (Vrishchik Rashi) the Mela is celebrated at Ujjain.[10][11] Each site's celebration dates are calculated in advance according to a special combination of zodiacal positions of Sun, Moon, and Jupiter.

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 approach Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva than they directed all demigods to Supreme Personalty of Godhead Lord Visnu (full story on kumbh mela) and after praying to Lord Visnu, He instructed them for churning ocean of milk Ksheera Sagara (primordial ocean of milk) for 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(Incarnates as Mohini-Mürti) flew away with the Kumbha of elixir spilling drops of amrita at four places: Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik.

Attendance:

According to The Imperial Gazetteer of India, an outbreak of cholera occurred at the 1892 Mela at Haridwar leading to the rapid improvement of arrangements by the authorities and to the formation of Haridwar Improvement Society. In 1903 about 400,000 people are recorded as attending the fair.[During the 1954 Kumbh Mela stampede at Prayag, around 500 people were killed, and scores were injured. Ten million people gathered at Haridwar for the Kumbh on April 14, 1998.The 1998 Kumbh Mela saw over 10 million pilgrims visiting Hardwar, to take a dip in the holy Ganges river. In 2001, around 1 million people from outside of India and from around the world participated in the Maha Kumbh Mela at Allahabad, with a total participation of approximately 60 million. This mela was unusually significant due to the planetary positions at the time, a pattern that repeats only once every 144 years

Most Significant Days During The Kumbh Mela:

Makar Sankranti:

Main article: 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.

Future Venues

Year	Allahabad	Nashik	Ujjain	Haridwar
1983	Ardh Kumbh	-	-	-
1986	-	-	-	Kumbh
1989	Kumbh	-	-	-
1991	-	Kumbh	-	-
1992	-	-	Kumbh	Ardh Kumbh
1995	Ardh Kumbh	-	-	-
1998	-	-	-	Kumbh
2001	Kumbh	-	-	-
2003	-	Kumbh	-	-
2004	-	-	Kumbh	Ardh Kumbh
2007	Ardh Kumbh	-	-	-
2010	-	-	-	Kumbh
2013	Maha Kumbh	-	-	-
2015	-	Kumbh	-	-
2016	-	-	Kumbh	Ardh Kumbh
2019	Ardh Kumbh	-	-	-
2022	-	-	-	Kumbh

• Upcoming Kumbh Mela festivals will be held in Allahabad in 2013 (January 14 to February 25), Nasik in 2015 (August 15 to September 13), and Ujjain in 2016 (April 22 to May 21).

• The Purna Kumbha Mela will again be held at prayag in the year 2013 (January 27 to February 25).

Here is the details of most auspicious days (Bathing Dates)in year 2013 during Maha Kumbh Festival (mela).

14 January 2013 (Monday) – Makar Sankranti

27 January 2013 (Sunday) – Paush Purnima

6 February 2013 (Wednesday) – Ekadashi Snan

10 February 2013 (Sunday) – Mauni Amavasya Snan (Main Bathing Day)

15 February 2013 (Friday) – Basant Panchami Snan

17 February 2013 (Sunday) – Rath Saptami Snan

21 February 2013 (Thursday) – Bhisma Ekadashi Snan

25 February 2013 (Monday) – Maghi Purnima Snan

• Nasik will host the Kumbha Mela in 2015 (Also Known as Simhasth at Nashik as Guru is in Sigh Rashi) (August 15 to September 13).
• Ujjain Purna Kumbh Mela 2016 (November 15 to December 15).