 |
| Photo by Aka_Phoneix |
Kumbh Mela orKumbha Mela is a mass Hindupilgrimage of faith in
which Hindus gather to bathe in a sacred river. It is considered to be the
largest peaceful gathering in the world where around 100 million people were
expected to visit during the Maha Kumbh Mela in 2013 in Allahabad. It is held
every third year at one of the four places by rotation: Haridwar,Allahabad
(Prayaga), Nashik and Ujjain. Thus the Kumbh Mela is held at each of these four
places every twelfth year. Ardha ("Half") Kumbh Mela is held at only
two places, Haridwar and Allahabad, every sixth year. The rivers at these four
places are: the Ganges(Ganga) at Haridwar, the confluence (Sangam) of the
Ganges and the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswatiat Allahabad, the Godawari at
Nashik, and the Shipraat Ujjain. The name Kumbh Mela comes from Hindi, and in
the original Sanskrit and other Indian languages it is more often known as
Kumbha Mela.Kumbha means a pitcher and Mela means fair in Sanskrit. The
pilgrimage is held for about one and a half months at each of these four
places: it is believed in Hinduism that drops of nectar fell from the kumbha
carried by gods after the sea was churned. Bathing in these rivers is thought
to cleanse a person of all sins. The festival is billed as the "world’s
largest congregation of religious pilgrims". There is no precise method of
ascertaining the number of pilgrims, and the estimates of the number of
pilgrims bathing on the most auspicious day may vary. Approximately 80 million
people were estimated to attend on 14 February 2013. Mauni Amavasya
traditionally attracted the largest crowds at the mela, held here every 12
years. The current Kumbh Mela was held on 14 January 2013 at Allahabad. The day
marked the second and the biggest Shahi Snanam (royal bath) of this event, with
13 akharas taking to the Sangam. 10 Feb 2013 was the biggest bathing day at the
Maha Kumbh Mela and probably the largest human gathering on a single day. Over
30 million devotees and ascetics took holy dip on the occasion of Mauni
Amavasya.
No comments:
Post a Comment