The 2001 Kumbh Mela.

Marching over the Gangas river

The largest religious gathering on Earth. [1][2] [3] Around 70 million people from around the world participated in the Kumbh Mela at the Holy city of Prayag (India) in 2001.

Kumbh Mela (कुम्भ मेला) (the Pitcher Festival) is a Hindu pilgrimage that occurs four times every twelve years and rotates among four locations: Prayag (Allahabad), Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik. Each twelve-year cycle includes one Maha Kumbh Mela (Great Kumbh Mela) at Prayag, which is attended by millions of people, making it the largest gathering anywhere in the world. It was actually started by King Harshvardhana of Ujjain. He used all his wealth to donate during this mela to poor,learned people of all religions.^{[citations needed]} Image File history File links The 2001 Kumbh Mela File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links The 2001 Kumbh Mela File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 436 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2550 × 3509 pixel, file size: 400 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I took the picture, when being present in the 2001 Kumbh mela File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 436 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2550 × 3509 pixel, file size: 400 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I took the picture, when being present in the 2001 Kumbh mela File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (721x721, 88 KB) Summary Image may be used for illustration and publishing purposes with the credit of spaceimaging. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (721x721, 88 KB) Summary Image may be used for illustration and publishing purposes with the credit of spaceimaging. ... Map of India. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Hinduism (known as in some modern Indian languages[1]) is a religion that originated on the Indian subcontinent. ... This article includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... Map of India. ... This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling. ... , Ujjain   (Hindi:उज्जैन) (also known as Ujain, Ujjayini, Avanti, Avantikapuri) is an ancient city of central India, in the Malwa region of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, on the eastern bank of the Kshipra River. ... Nashik (Marathi: ) ( ) or Nasik (Marathi: ) is a city in Indias Maharashtra state. ...

After visiting the Kumbh mela of 1895, Mark Twain wrote: Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910),[1] better known by the pen name Mark Twain, was an American humorist, satirist, writer, and lecturer. ...

"It is wonderful, the power of a faith like that, that can make multitudes upon multitudes of the old and weak and the young and frail enter without hesitation or complaint upon such incredible journeys and endure the resultant miseries without repining. It is done in love, or it is done in fear; I do not know which it is. No matter what the impulse is, the act born of it is beyond imagination marvelous to our kind of people, the cold whites."^[1]

Astronomy and Kumbh Mela

The precise dates of the Kumbh Mela are astronomically determined, based upon precise calculations of the positions of the Sun, the Moon and Jupiter. At Prayag, the Maha Kumbh Mela is held in the month of Magha (January/February in the Gregorian calendar). The highest spiritual merit is attached to bathing on the new moon day, Amavasya, when Jupiter is in Aquarius (known in India as the Kumbh (the pot)) and both the Sun and Moon are in Capricorn. At Haridwar, the Kumbh Mela is held in the months of Phalgun and Chaitra (February/March/April), when the Sun passes to Aries, the Moon is in Sagittarius and Jupiter is in Aquarius. In Ujjain, the festival is held in the month of Vaishakha (May), when other planets are in Libra, the Sun and Moon are in Aries and Jupiter is in Leo. At Nashik, the Kumbh Mela takes place in the month of Shravana (July), when the Sun and Moon are in Cancer and Jupiter is in Scorpio. The Sun (Latin: Sol) is the star at the center of the Solar System. ... Apparent magnitude: up to -12. ... Atmospheric characteristics Atmospheric pressure 70 kPa Hydrogen ~86% Helium ~14% Methane 0. ... Map of India. ... Maagha (Hindi: माघ maagh) is a month of the Hindu calendar. ... The Gregorian calendar is the most widely used calendar in the world. ... Amavasya - A Hindu Custom Amavasya is nothing but the no-moon day. ... Capricornus ( or ), a name meaning Horned Goat or That which has horns like a goats in Latin, is one of the constellations of the zodiac. ... This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling. ... Phalguna (Hindi: फागुन phaagun or फाल्गुन phaalgun) is a month of the Hindu calendar. ... Chaitra (Hindi: चैत cait or चैत्र caitr) is a month of the Hindu calendar. ... Aries (IPA: , Latin: , symbol , ) is one of the constellations of the zodiac. ... Sagittarius is an astrological sign, which is associated with the constellation Sagittarius. ... Aquarius (IPA: , Latin: ) is the eleventh sign of the zodiac, situated between Capricornus and Pisces. ... , Ujjain   (Hindi:उज्जैन) (also known as Ujain, Ujjayini, Avanti, Avantikapuri) is an ancient city of central India, in the Malwa region of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, on the eastern bank of the Kshipra River. ... Vaisakha (Hindi: बैसाख baisākh or वैशाख vaishākh) is a month of the Hindu calendar. ... Spirit of Libra Libra is an astrological sign, which is associated with the constellation Libra, as can be seen here[1] in the Southern Hemisphere near Scorpius and Virgo. ... Leo (IPA: , Latin: , symbol , ) is a constellation of the zodiac. ... Nashik (Marathi: ) ( ) or Nasik (Marathi: ) is a city in Indias Maharashtra state. ... Shraavana (Hindi: सावन saavan or श्रावण shraavan) is a month of the Hindu calendar, also known as Sawan. ... Cancer (IPA: , Latin: , symbol , ) is one of the thirteen constellations of the zodiac. ... Scorpius (Latin for scorpion, symbol , Unicode ♏) is one of the constellations of the zodiac. ...

It is also said that the elixir of life is filled in a Kumbh (Pot) in Swarg (heaven) so with certain combination of Sun - Moon - Jupiter, the elixir falls from heaven to earth, and kumbh mela is held on those locations. The Kumbh mela held at Prayag (Allhabad) is the biggest religious gathering of world.^{[citation needed]}

The legend

The observance of Kumbh Mela is based upon the following legend: Thousands of years ago, in the Vedic period, gods and demons made a temporary agreement to work together churning amrit (the nectar of immortality) from the Ksheera Sagara (primordial ocean of milk), and to share the nectar equally. However, when the Kumbh (urn) containing the amrita appeared, the demons ran away with it and were chased by the gods. For twelve days and twelve nights (equivalent to twelve human years) the gods and demons fought in the sky for possession of this pot of amrita. It is said that during the battle, drops of amrita fell at four places: Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik. Thus, the Kumbh Mela is observed at these four locations where the nectar fell. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... In Hindu mythology and Buddhist Mythology, Amrita is the drink of the gods, which grants them immortality. ... // Overview In Hinduism, Samudra manthan or The churning of the ocean of milk is one of the most famous episodes in the Puranas and is celebrated in a major way every twelve years in the festival known as Kumbha Mela. ... Map of India. ... This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling. ... , Ujjain   (Hindi:उज्जैन) (also known as Ujain, Ujjayini, Avanti, Avantikapuri) is an ancient city of central India, in the Malwa region of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, on the eastern bank of the Kshipra River. ... Nashik (Marathi: ) ( ) or Nasik (Marathi: ) is a city in Indias Maharashtra state. ...

Rituals of Kumbh Mela

The Triveni Sangam, or the intersection of Yamuna River and Ganges River, where devotees perform rituals.

Kumbh Mela is attended by millions of people on a single day. The major event of this festival is a ritual bath at the banks of the rivers in each town. Other activities include religious discussions, devotional singing, mass feeding of holy men and women and the poor, and religious assemblies where doctrines are debated and standardized. Kumbh Mela (especially the Maha Kumbh Mela) is the most sacred of all the Hindu pilgrimages. Thousands of holy men and women (monks, saints and sadhus) attend, and the auspiciousness of the festival is in part attributable to this. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2576x1932, 542 KB) Summary Triven Sangam. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2576x1932, 542 KB) Summary Triven Sangam. ... Sangam in Hindi means the confluence. ... This article is about the river. ... In Hinduism, sadhu is a common term for an ascetic or practitioner of yoga (yogi) who has given up pursuit of the first three Hindu goals of life: kama (pleasure), artha (wealth and power) and even dharma (duty). ...

Recent Kumbh Melas

2003

When the Kumbh Mela was held in Nashik, India, from July 27 to September 7, 2003, 39 pilgrims (28 women and 11 men) were trampled to death and 57 were injured (keeping in mind that the number of devotees attending the fair was around 70 million). Devotees had gathered on the banks of the Godavari river for the maha snaan or holy bath. Over 30,000 pilgrims were being held back by barricades in a narrow street leading to the Ramkund, a holy spot, so the sadhus could take the first ceremonial bath. Reportedly, a sadhu threw some silver coins into the crowd and the subsequent scramble led to the stampede.^[2] == Nashik (Marathi: ) ( ) or Nasik (Marathi: ) is a city in Indias Maharashtra state. ... July 27 is the 208th day (209th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 157 days remaining. ... September 7 is the 250th day of the year (251st in leap years). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Godavari River, adjacent to the town of Kovvur This article is about Godavari River in India. ... In Hinduism, sadhu is a common term for an ascetic or practitioner of yoga (yogi) who has given up pursuit of the first three Hindu goals of life: kama (pleasure), artha (wealth and power) and even dharma (duty). ...

2007

Every six years there is an Ardh or Half Mela at Prayag (also known as Allahabad) The actual dates are dependent on stellar constellations and were announced as below: Map of India. ... This article includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ...

Important bathing dates

• 3 Jan (Poush Purnima)
• 14 Jan (Makar Sankranti)
• 19 Jan (Mauni Amavasya)
• 23 Jan (Basant Panchami)
• 2 Feb (Magh Purnima)

Future Kumbh Melas

2013

Every twelve years is Maha Kumbh Mela or Great Pitcher Festival which always occurs at Allahabad. This article includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ...

Notes

1. ^ Mark Twain, "Following the Equator: A journey around the world"
2. ^ Hindu article

External links

• Information on Ardh Kumbh Mela 2007.
• Kumbha Mela
• Kumbha Mela 1998
• A Description of the Maha Kumbha Mela Experience, by Stephen Knapp
• Kumbh Mela pictured from space
• Gods, Gurus and the Ganges: 70 Million gather for India's monumental Maha Kumbh Mela, by Karl Grobl
• Ardh Kumbh Mela 2007
• Time line of Kumbhamela