How to Celebrate 2010 Kumbh Mela in Haridwar

2010 Kumbh Mela is the world main largest religious gathering festival starting from 14 January. According to astrologers, the 'Kumbh Festival' takes place when the planet Jupiter enters Aquarius and the Sun enters Aries.

2010 Kumbh Mela is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage that takes place at the following four places of India.

In 2010 Kumbh Mela will be held at Haridwar in the foothills of the Himalayas. Date for 2010 Kumbh Mela in Haridwar. The main dates are 14 Jan, 12 and 13 Feb, 15 Mar and 14 April 2010.

Step 1:- Visit Kumbh Mela Fair during March and April, in Haridwar, where the Ganga flows out of the Himalayas. Prayag, Allahabad will crowd next Kumbh Mela in 2013 at the confluence the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati sacred rivers. In 2015, Nasik, along the Godavari river, is the festival site and in 2016, Ujjain, will welcome Kumbh Mela pilgrims.

Step 2:- After reaching Kumbh Mela in Haridwar take a bath on dates according to lunar cycles. Bathing in the sacred waters of River Ganges (Ganga), along which Kumbh Mela festivals are located, purifies karma and brings good fortune. Along with Pray with millions of pilgrims to add spiritual efforts to the consciousness of all pilgrims.

Step 3:- Have early morning bath (Prayag Snan) in the holy waters of River Ganges. Bathing daily and on specified bathing dates is the purpose of Kumbh Mela. It is said that bathing in the Ganga is like bathing in nectar. The main bathing date for 2010 Kumbh Mela in Haridwar. The most important dates are 14 Jan, 12 and 13 Feb, 15 Mar and 14 April 2010.

Step 4:- Go back to camp for meditation and prayers. And then throughout the day, perform Puja (worship of a deity), Kumbha Darshan, or practice your personal sadhana. Each evening, at sundown, gather for divine aarti (closing devotional ceremony) on the banks of the holy waters.

Step 5:- Do not fail to remember shop at the marketplaces in Haridwar. Kumbh Mela has an atmosphere of a fair with shops and attractions for pilgrims. Along with fruits, vegetables for offerings and for eating, blankets and other necessities, you can find tiger claws (not recommended) and can pay to watch.

Kumbh Mela in Haridwar Starts From 14 January 2010

Haridwar is one of India's top spiritual destinations, a holy wish ceremony is held along the banks of the Ganges River. This attractive ceremony creates a warm color as small candles are floated down the river. Coupled with the clanking of bells, chanting of mantras and enthusiastic crowd, it's extremely moving.

Kumbh Mela is a mass pilgrimage centered on the ritual of waterside bathing, it is variously called the ‘the Biggest Indian Bathing Festival’.

The 2010 Maha Kumbh Mela will be held at Haridwar in the foothills of the Himalayas. Haridwar is regarded as one of the seven holiest places to the Indians. The Holy river Ganga transverses the Himalayas to enter the Plains of North India for the 1^st time at Haridwar and this are what gave the city its very old name, Gangadwara (the place where the Ganges descends to the plains). Millions of people contribute in Kumbh Mela in Haridwar

What is the Legend behind the Kumbh Mela?

Kumbh means pitcher or pot. Mela means fair or festival. Hence, the Kumbh Mela means fair of the pot. It exclusively relates to the pot of nectar in Hindu mythology.

Legend has it that the gods once misplaced their strength. In order to get back it, they agreed with the demons to churn the primordial sea of milk for amrit (the nectar of immortality). This was to be divided equally between them. However, a fight broke-out, which went on for 12 human years. Throughout this battle, the celestial bird, Garuda, flew away with the Kumbh that held the nectar. Drops of nectar are believed to have fallen in the places that the Kumbh Mela is now held -- Haridwar, Prayag (Allahabad), Nashik and Ujjain.

What Rituals are performed at the Kumbh Mela?

The major ritual performed at that Kumbh Mela is the ritual bath. Hindus think that submerging themselves in the sacred waters on the luckiest day of the new moon will absolve them and their ancestors of sin, thus ending the cycle of new start. Pilgrims begin lining up to bathe from around 3 a.m. on this day.

As the sun rises, the different groups of sadhus move in procession towards the river to bathe. The Nagas generally lead, while each group tries to exceed the others with more grandeur and fanfare. The instant is magical, and everyone is absorbed in it.

After bathing, the pilgrims wear new clothes and go on to worship by the river bank. They then march around listening to discourses from the various sadhus.