Kumbh Mela is one of the world largest and oldest religious gatherings held by Hindus believing that the waters of the Ganges change into nectar on this auspicious time. People from all over the world contribute here for a holy dip in the divine water of Ganga as they think it eliminates all the evil and past time sins from an individual's life.
Kumbh Mela Location
The Kumbh Mela is held on a rotational basis in 4 of the most holy Hindu places in India - the ShipraRiver in Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh), on the banks of the GodavariRiver in Nashik (Maharastra), the GangesRiver in Haridwar (Uttarakhand) and convergence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers in Allahabad/Prayag (Uttar Pradesh). The Kumbh Mela is held in each place once every 12 years
Experience the Kumbh Mela 2010 at Haridwar
Soon, the complete holy town of Haridwar would be reverberating with Vedic chants and temple bells. Yogis, Rishis, and Sadhus would over-pack Haridwar. Pilgrims and devotees would be demanding taking a sacred dip in the divine waters of the Ganges and observing rites and rituals. Therefore one can experience the most surreal scenes on the riverbanks of the Ganges throughout Kumbh Mela. From dawn till dusk, rituals and rites continue.
Kumbh Mela Pilgrims:
Naga Babas, a big Kumbh Mela attraction for all, keep themselves demanding meditating and practicing different yogic positions. These Naga Babas remain unclothed, with long matted hair and the body smeared in ashes. It is interesting to observe that the extremities of weather conditions do not affect them.
Shrishasins who keep themselves in the standing pose round the clock. They remain demanding meditating standing upside down.
Yogis of the Parivajakas sects who observe total silence. In way to clear the way, they do not say a word except tinkle little bells.
Kalpvasis - who remain by the river banks and devote their era to meditating, performing rituals, and bathing several times a day.
Urdhwavahurs Yogis, who believe in observing self mortification.
Sacred bathing at the Mela:
The India most important ritual of the Kumbh Mela is the ceremonial dip in the water. The Hindus think that a bath in the holy waters will cleanse them and their ancestor´s evil and past sin. This would make sure their salvation or moksha from the cycle of life, death and rebirth. Ritual bathing is done in the release on the banks of river with absolute submergence of the body under water and an oblation to the sun. The most favorable day for the ritual Kumbh bath is on the day of the new moon. Pilgrims begin lining up to bathe from around 3 a.m. on this day. After bathing, the pilgrims wear fresh clothes and continue to worship by the river bank. They then walk around listening to discourses from the various Yogis.
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