The Kumbh Mela is the world’s biggest religious gathering, attracting millions. Because of the fortunate timing, the Purna Kumbh Mela is being conducted after 11 years instead of the normal 12. The fortunate dates are computed based on Jupiter’s, the Sun’s, and the Moon’s zodiac placements. According to statistics, 24.01 crore people attended the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj in 2019. Despite the epidemic, Haridwar expects more than 10 lakh tourists on ordinary days and more than 50 lakhs on auspicious days.
Here are the top 10 facts about the Kumbh Mela that you should know as the event approaches.
The Holy Nectar is at the center of the Kumbh Mela legend.
The four sacred places of the Kumbh Mela, according to Hindu mythology, are where droplets of nectar or Amrit fell during a battle between gods and demons. During the Kumbh Mela, believers yearn for this miraculous elixir of immortality. As devotees bathe, the four sacred places are said to transform into purifying nectar, allowing them to cleanse their souls and cease the cycle of birth and death.
The gathering of millions
The Kumbh Mela drew an increasing number of pilgrims as time passed. In 1903, the Mela drew over 400,000 pilgrims. In 1954, almost 500,000 people attended the Mela. In 1998, the population reached 10 million; in 2001, it reached 40 million. Around 70 million people attended the Kumbh Mela in 2007, while around 100 million went in 2013. In 2019, 150 million people attended the Mela, marking it the world’s Largest Religious Gathering.
Astrological predictions determine the Kumbh Mela’s date and location.
The Kumbh Mela is held in four cities across India: Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik; however, the exact date and location are determined by astrological forecasts and religious considerations. When the Sun enters Aries and Jupiter enters Aquarius, the Mela is structured according to the positions of several planets and stars. Some nectar is said to have spilled over in these four locations during Garuda’s battle.
The Maha Kumbh Mela after 144 years
Maha Kumbh Mela, Purna Kumbh Mela, Adrh Kumbh Mela, and Kumbh Mela are the four forms of Kumbh Mela. The Maha Kumbh Mela, which takes place once every 144 years in Allahabad, is the holiest of them all. According to Huien Tsang’s texts, the Magh Kumbh Mela in Allahabad is the oldest iteration of the Kumbh Mela. Next maha khubh mela is in 2025.
The Kumbh Mela is a 2000-year-old festival.
Hieun Tsang, a Chinese explorer, first mentioned the Kumbh Mela in his writings in 644 CE. He recalled a gathering where people washed to wash their sins away at the confluence of two rivers. This indicates that the celebration has been going on for around 2000 years.
The Shahi Snan Is a sin cleansing ritual.
The main event of the Kumbh Mela is the sacred bath or plunge. Devotees from all over the world come to the event to take holy dips in the Ganga to achieve Moksha or salvation. It is thought that taking a sacred plunge in the Ganga will cleanse them of all sins. The devotees, led by saints, participate in day-long ceremonies performed on river embankments.
The Naga sadhus of Kumbh Mela
Several holy men from various Hindu sects, including the Nagas (who don’t wear clothes), Kalpwasis (who bathe three times a day), and Urdhawavahurs, attend the Mela (who believe in putting the body through severe austerities). They travel to the Mela to execute Religious ceremonies for their various communities.
The name Kumbh Mela
The term Mela ‘Kumbh’ literally refers to nectar. The Kumbh Mela’s roots may be traced back to when Gods (Devtas) and Demons (Asuras) coexisted on Earth. A curse had afflicted the devtas, causing them to be fearful and feeble. Brahma (the creator) directed them to churn the milky ocean to get the elixir of immortality, and this churning continues to this day among Hindu worshippers at the Kumbh Mela. There is, however, one term that firmly dominates the story in the middle of the rich jumble that is the Kumbh saga: immortality. The celebration is centered on man’s desire to taste the nectar of immortality and his fear of death.
The mismanagements of Kumbh Mela
In 1892, a cholera outbreak struck the Haridwar Mela, prompting the formation of the Haridwar Improvement Society to oversee Mela’s fast growth plans. Because of Mela’s development, around 400,000 people visited Mela in 1903. In 1954, a stampede in Allahabad during the Kumbh Mela killed over 500 people and injured many more.
Kumbh Mela is Viewable from the Sky
In 2019, an estimated 150 million people attended the Mela. The Mela is so large that it can practically be seen from space. The core of the Mela, known as Kumbh Nagri in Prayag, covers an area of 58.03 square kilometers. The ISRO satellite orbited Earth at an altitude of 817 kilometers and captured photographs of the Mela that reveal the festival’s roadways, campgrounds, and even crowds.
