The Kumbh Mela or the Bathing Festival of Hindus is one of the major Hindu gathering or festive event. I started hearing about the Kumbh Mela as a kid from my mother who was a reasonably spiritual person. Every few years I heard family members and relatives talk at length about this gathering and I could sense at their enthusiasm that this was a big event celebrated periodically by Hindus.
Later I realized the importance and the origin of attending this gathering that takes place in four places:
- Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh) at the confluence of three holy rivers – Ganga (Ganges), Yamuna and Saraswati
- Haridwar (Uttar Pradesh) where the river Ganga enters the plains from Himalayas
- Ujjain ( Madhya Pradesh), on the banks of Shipra river, and
- Nasik (Maharashtra) on the banks of Godavari river
The Purna Kumbh (complete Kumbh) takes place at four places – Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik once in twelve years, while the Ardh Kumbh Mela is held every six years at Haridwar and Allahabad. It is estimated that in 2007 around 17 million Hindu devotees took part in the Ardh Kumbh Mela at Allahabad. Large arrangements are made for foreign and Indian tourists. Pilgrims from across the world attend this gathering to take a holy dip in the River Ganga.
The Maha Kumbh Mela or Great Kumbh Mela is celebrated after 12 Purna Kumbh Melas which is after every 144 years. The last Maha Kumbh was celebrated in 2001 at Allahabad which was attended by 60 million people, making it the largest gathering in the world.
As I gathered these details and statistics around the Hindu’s most auspicious festival, I begin to feel the enormous spirituality that exists in our country. People from all walks of life and from various nook and corner of our country attend this festival. Consider this , The Maha Kumbh Mela is celebrated after 12 Purna Kumbh Melas which is after every 144 years. Some of us may not be born to witness this altogether. And I realize if it was such a missed opportunity if we didn’t take a holy dip in the Ganges in 2001 during the Maha Kumbh. The sheer significance of that event just bowls me over. According to the Vedas (ancient religious text of the Hindus) it is believed that a person who takes a bath during the Kumbh Mela period is freed from the birth-death cycle and achieves salvation. The importance of this gathering just overwhelms me.
For those who missed, here is another opportunity not to be missed! The 2010 Kumbh is currently on at Haridwar till April 28, 2010. It is a holy city and is said to be blessed by the three Hindu Gods or Trinity – Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The river Ganga flows through the heart of the city. This is the place where Ganga enters the plains from Himalayas.
Haridwar is also known for being home to a large number of temples. It is among the seven sacred cities of India and is also considered to be one of the Shaktipeeths. The city is considered to be the gateway to the abode of Gods, as it provides the entry point to the Char Dham (the four main centers of pilgrimage) in Uttarakhand, namely Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri.
As I reflect in awe on the auspicious gathering “The Kumbh”, the faith of people right from the rural to the urban Indians just seems mind blowing. This Indian traditional bathing festival of Hindus is fast gaining traction amongst foreign tourists and spiritual minded. As the famous quote goes – “Faith can move mountains!” It definitely does move a mountain full of people from all walks of life to converge into a small town for the sake of supreme spirituality.
I don’t know how others feel but personally I do enjoy being in the holy town of Haridwar. The cool breeze, clear sky, sunshine and the cold water of the Ganges, just energizes me and brings immense peace. Did I say – its Peace most are seeking! At least I am! It surely flows in the water of holy Ganga. And we all finally get peace once we are allowed to flow into it after our last rights as observed. Well its still time for my ultimate peaceful flow till than I will continue grabbing my share of peace through these occasional visits to Haridwar.
Har Har Gange!!!
Posts
