• Timing of Kumbh Mela
• Darshan of the Holy Saints
• Procession of Holy Saints
• Legend of Kumbh Mela
• Timing: Sacred Bathing Event

Kumbh Mela is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage and bathing festival that takes place at the following 4 locations of India:

• Prayag (near the city of Allahabad, in the state of Uttar Pradesh) at the confluence of three rivers Ganga (Ganges), Yamuna and Saraswati
  
• Haridwar (in the state of Uttaranchal Pradesh) where the river Ganga enters the plains from Himalayas.
  
• Ujjain (in Madhya Pradesh), on the banks of Ksipra river.
  Nasik (in Maharashtra) on the banks of Godavari river.
  

Dates for the Maha Kumbh Festival
(every 12 years in 4 locations)

• The next Ardh (half) Mela (festival) will be held January 2007 at Allahabad.
  
• In 2007 Maha Kumbh Mela will be held at Nashik in Maharastra.
  
• In 2010 Maha Kumbh Mela will be held at Haridwar in the foothills of the Himalayas.
  
• In 2013 Maha Kumbh Mela will be held January in Allahabad (Prayag).
  

The basic point of the Kumbh Mela is for pilgrims to bathe at certain sacred spots on certain auspicious days. A large tented city is erected and pilgrims stay at tents owned by Pandas (religious and spiritual guides) and at various ashrams. Others will just camp on the ground or turn up for the actual bathing day. Certain of these bathing days are designated "royal," and it is on these days that the naga sadhus (naked mendicants) parade and bathe. On other days there will still be people bathing and other events and random processions.

Darshan of the Holy Saints:

Wave upon wave of bliss. The darshan -- the blessings -- of all the magnificent saints and yogis who come out of their Himalayan caves only once very 12 years in order to bless the people. This is the Kumbh Mela ("the festival of the pot of nectar - amrit kalash - of immortality"). A once in a lifetime, unforgettable event!

The guru of the famous saint Paramahansa Yogananda, author of Autobiography of a Yogi, met his guru, the Mahavatar Babaji, at Kumbh Mela.

The Procession of Holy Saints:

To watch the Kumbh Mela processions is to witness the march of the ages. As the holy saints pass by on their various and sundry conveyances -- elephants, horses, palanquins, chariots, cars, and camels -- they are continually transmitting waves of powerful shakti (energy) to all the people who witness this awe-inspiring and most auspicious event. Devotees are overwhelmed by the palpable spiritual vibrations that pervade the entire atmosphere.

While the parade of saints marches towards the Ganges River, the sounds baffle all description -- the shout and cries of ash-smeared sadhus mingle with the neighing of horses, trumpeting of elephants, grunting of camels, bellowing of bulls. Gongs and drums beat, trumpets blare, conch shells blow and bells ring. In the midst of this cacophony, musicians and dancers perform.

Legend of Kumbh Mela:

Mythological legends say that at the beginning of creation, all the Gods were under a curse that made them weak and cowardly. Brahma, the creator God, advised them to retrieve the Kumbh (pot) containing the nectar of immortality (amrit). The gods sought help from the demons, and together they churned the primordial ocean to bring up the nectar.

As Dhanwantari, the divine healer, appeared with the "Kumbh" containing nectar in his palms, a great fight ensued between the Gods and demons to wrest the pitcher. During the fierce battle in the sky, a few drops of nectar fell in four different places: Allahabad (Prayag), Haridwar, Nasik and Ujjain.

Since then, when the planets align in the same position, pilgrims and devotees converge to commemorate this divine event. Kumbh Mela takes place every three years in rotation in the four sacred places. Therefore Kumbh Mela at Allahabad, the most holy of these fairs, only takes place every twelfth year. The Ardh Kumbh Mela takes place in the sixth year between Kumbh Melas.

In the four holy places Kumbh Mela takes place at an interval of twelve years coinciding with one round of Jupiter through the zodiac. In Allahabad it takes place with Jupiter in Vrishabh (Taurus) while the Sun enters Makara (Capricorn) coinciding with the northerly course of the Sun. The major bath takes place when the Moon too enters Makara.

Above is a photo of Kumbh Mela 100 years ago.
This ancient tradition has occurred since time immemorial.

Timing: Sacred Bathing Event:

• 3 January 2007 - Paush Purnima
  The full moon in the Hindu month of Paush. This is the last full moon of winter. The sadhus will be at the Kumbh Mela and first pilgrims will already arrive. More would come in buses, trains and on foot.
  
• 14 January 2007 - Makar Sankranti
  According to Hindu Astrology, on this day the Sun enters the constellation Capricorn. This day is celebrated all over India through various festivals and pilgrimages. This is the first of the big bathing days.
  
• 19 January 2007 - Mauni Amavasya
  This is "New Moon of the Saints." For the holy men and women this was their main bathing day where they participated in gilded and naked processions. It is also a day when new members to various holy monastic orders received their first initiation.
  
• 23 January 2007 - Vasant Panchami
  This is the fifth day of the bright half of the lunar month and is the beginning of spring in North India. Traditionally people wore yellow on this day. It is day when people prayed to the Gods for a good bumper harvest.
  
• 2 February 2007 - Magh Purnima
  This is the full moon in the month of Magha (January - February). Winter is a memory and the moon shines over the two holy rivers.
  
• 15 to 16 February 2007 - Mahashivratri
  This is the Great Night of Shiva, the Naked One, from whose dreadlocks the Ganges flows. He married Parvati, daughter of the Himalayas on this day. Shiva has many followers, none more so than the naked Naga sadhus who live life in imitation of him.

For more information and booking for kumbh mela write to us on bmakharia@yogashramrishikesh.com

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