India is a nation which is famous everywhere throughout the world for giving incomparable significance to belief and religion, with Hinduism being the most broadly followed religion in the nation. The Kumbh Mela is the most important religious gatherings of the Hindus which is starting on 15th January 2019 and will end on 4th March 2019. The biggest fair on the planet, it is organized once at regular intervals of 3 years at the religious goals of Ujjain, Nashik, Haridwar and Allahabad. Allahabad is the place of the blessed Sangam, where the pious streams Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati merge into one and the Hindu pilgrims unite here to take a plunge at the Sangam, with the point of purifying their bodies and minds.
#1. One of the greatest heavenly social events of Hinduism, the Kumbh Mela pulls in upwards of 70 million pilgrims from around the globe. They come here to accomplish salvation from the unending cycle of life and death, which is otherwise called moksha in the religion.
#2. “Kumbh” generally refers to the nectar and the story behind this Mela takes you back to the time when the gods used to stay on the earth. However, Durvasa’s curse had debilitated them and the asuras (demon) caused the chaos on the planet.
#3. Lord Brahma directed them to churn out the nectar or immortality with the help of asuras. After this plan, asuras got disappointed as it was decided to not share the nectar with them, then asuras chased them for 12 years. During this chase, some of the nectar fell at these four places described above.
#4. There are four venues for the Kumbh Mela, which are Ujjain, Nashik, Haridwar and Allahabad, each having the Mela at regular intervals. The Ardha Kumbh Mela is held at Haridwar and Allahabad (Prayag) after like every 6 years, the Purna Kumbh Mela is held at Allahabad (Prayag) following 12 years and Maha Kumbh Mela happens at Allahabad (Prayag) following 144 years.
#5. The Kumbh Mela is gone to by pilgrims along with sadhus. The naga sadhus participate in this celebration and they are totally naked.
#6. The key ritual of the Kumbh Mela is bathing on the banks of the holy river which stream at where the Mela is being organized, specifically Ganga in Haridwar, Sangam in Allahabad, Kshipra in Ujjain and Godavari in Nashik.
#7. The legend behind Kumbh Mela is that it is held like every 12 years as it shows the 12 days and 12 nights of the war between the Gods and Demons. At some point, one night in heaven is viewed as equivalent to one human year.
#8. It is believed that amid the fight, a few drops of the elixir fell on these four places on the earth, which have lent extraordinary forces to the water of the streams streaming at these spots. In the present time, they have turned into the scenes of the Kumbh Mela.
#9. The Mela is organized as indicated by different planets and stars position when Sun enters Aries and Jupiter enters Aquarius. A few years hold unique significance as such positions get repeated after the long gaps.
#10. Among the venues of the Kumbh Mela, Allahabad or Prayag is respected as the most alarmed one. Firstly, it is where the three holy streams meet up to shape the heavenly Sangam and also, it is worshipped as the place of the first sacrifice performed by Lord Brahma after the making of the universe.
#11. Exceptional facilities are offered for the millions of pilgrims who unite to praise this incredible occasion. These facilities incorporate toilets, temporary clinics, specialists available if the need arises and the large number of police personnel to deal with the crowd and security.
All these brilliant realities have made the larger than life Kumbh Mela considerably all the more astonishing!