Maha Kumbh Mela in Haridwar

Duration: 04 Nights 05 Days
Places Covered: Delhi - Haridwar - Rishikesh - Delhi

“Kumbh” in Sanskrit means Pitcher. It is also the zodiac sign in Indian astrology for Aquarius. This is the sigh under which the festival of Kumb Mela is celebrated. In Hindi language, “Mela” means the big fair or exposition. So, the Maha Kumbh Mela is the big congregation like mass of Hindu pilgrimage. This exuberant and high-spirited even is held four times in every twelve years. It is even been in records for being the place of largest gathering in the whole world.

Maha Kumbh mela is held in alternation at four places namely: Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik. The Maha Kumbh Mela of 2010 will be taking place in Haridwar. Hoisted on the banks of the Holy Ganges, Haridwar serves as the entrance to the four pilgrimages of Uttaranchal. The rush of pilgrims and enthusiasts to this place will be a phenomenal event as usual. The population reaching at the Mela seems to be increasing with every passing year.

Important Dates of Kumbh Mela in Haridwar, India, 2010
January 14 to April 28, 2010

In the March-April months of 2010, the Maha Kumbh Mela will be held at the holy Haridwar situated in the foothills of the Himalayas.

The main bathing dates for the Kumbh Mela of Haridwar are: 14 Jan, 12 & 13 Feb, 15 Mar and 14 April 2010.

This holy festival is important for all Hindus as taking part in this sacred event is known to free one from the sins and the cycle of birth-rebirth. The date of the mela is fixed after consulting the traditional Indian astrology. According to this astrology, the planet Jupiter (known as the Brihaspati in Hindi) moves into the kumb (or the zodiac sign of Aquarius) and it results in the Kumb mela gather and prayer offering. The out of the ordinary combination of zodiacal positions of Sun, Moon, and Jupiter are behind deciding the actual date of celebrations.

If Ardh Kumbh Mela is celebrated at every six year gap at Haridwar and Allahabad, then the Purna (complete) Kumbh mela takes place in every twelve years at Allahabad. Every event of this Mela witness around 70 million Hindu pilgrims taking part in it. The most important and auspicious day of this festival is the Makar Sankranti. It is during this time, when the pilgrims reach up to five million in number. History behind the Kumb Mela:

Referring back to the history of Kumb mela reveals that it dates back to an era of Gods and Demons. It dates back to a time when the Amrita Kalasha (or the pot of nectar that brings immortality) was being recovered from the great process of Samudramanthan (or the churning of the primordial sea). During this time, there happened to be a war between the Gods and Demons to acquire the pot. To prevent the Demons from getting access to the immortality pot, four Gods were made responsible for the pot’s safety. These four Gods were the great and eminent Brahaspati, Surya, Chandra and Shani. These four Gods ran away with the Amrita Kalasha. Demons (or Asuras) could not stand this and started chasing the four Gods. In this way, the Gods and demons ran round the earth for around twelve days and nights. During this chase, the four Devtas (Gods) put the Kumbh (pot) at Haridwar, Prayag, Ujjain and Nasik. This is the reason behind the Kumb Mela being celebrated at these places. Kumb mela is organized to honor and commemorate the holy event of Amrita Kalasha being put at the four places.