Maha Kumbh

This time Allahabad is celebrating Maha kumbh festival with great fervor and zeal. I eagerly wanted to go there, but due to other task in hand, I have to drop the plan.

I guess, we all know about the mythologies prevail around Kumbh. The Amrit Kumbh (nectar bowl) brought out from Amrit manthan and to save it from demons, the Lord Vishnu seized the nectar bowl and run away. While running, the few drops of amrit have been fell onto the four regions of Aryavarta (India known at that time): Prayag (current Allahabad), Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik. Thus, these four regions are the Kumbh (amrit) place; Allahabad is more significant, though. Kumbh held in every 12 years and rotates amongst these four places.

Prayag have always been significant because of Kumbh. Specifically, the Kumbh mela get over in one months; however, in general it continues to exist around two months……………

Noteworthy things about the Kumbh is the holy dip of Ganga. There is a strong belief that it washes away all your sins and curses once you dip in Ganga, during Kumbh. The sight of millions of devoted bathers in the bitter cold of season is overwhelming. This establishes the fact that they all bound with the silver thread of faith despite of their differences of casts, creeds, states, languages and cultures. I haven’t had a bathe in Ganga but I have been witnessed to it since my childhood. The auspicious day bath, which is Makar Sankranti, MahaShivratri, and Amavasya, takes millions of people around Sangam. Almost come with single hope—wash the sin away of current birth and do a fresh start in next birth. God-fearing people come and take holy dip and get rid of their previous sins and are ready for the next 12 years. Lots of babas’ open camp welcoming you with both hands to give you an extra mileage in this regard.

Personally, I don’t believe in Ganga bathing concept but the idea that emerges out is far admiring. It keeps bound you with your tradition. India is the only country which kept preserved its culture and tradition despite the onslaughts of invaders many times.

I have read somewhere that it’s Adi Sankaracharya who formed this Kumbh mela institution. The scholars and seers from all parts of the world would gather and mingle with common people and discussed and debated on Hindu philosophy and spiritualism. The purpose and format is changed now but the core concept is still existing—gathering of people with same belief