Maha Kumbh Mela

The Meaning of Kumbh

The literal meaning of Kumbh is a pitcher, but its elemental meaning is something else. Even as a symbol of pitcher, Kumbh is synonymous with holy activities as in daily life a pitcher (or kalash) is an integral part of all sacred activities in Hindu culture, and this pitcher is a symbol of Kumbh.
Holy scriptures say that in a pitcher, its mouth (opening) symbolizes the presence of Vishnu, its neck that of Rudra, the base of Brahama, all goddesses in the center and the entire oceans in the interior, thus encompassing all the four Vedas. This itself establishes the significance of the Kumbh as symbolized by the pitcher.

Kumbh Facts

The Maha Kumbh Mela is held every 12 years only at Allahabad

The Kumbh Mela is held every 3 years in rotation at Allahabad, Haridwar, Nashik and Ujjain

The Magh Mela – Mini Kumbh is held every year at Allahabad

Maha Kumbh Mela 2001, Allahabad – 54.2 Million pilgrims visited

Ardha (Half) Kumbh Mela 2007, Allahabad – 70.02 million pilgrims visited

Kumbh Mela 2010, Haridwar – On April 14th (Last Shahi Snan) 16.4 million pilgrims visited on this one day

Important dates of the Maha Kumbh Mela 2013

14^th January                           Monday                                   Makkar Sankrant

27^th January                            Sunday                                    Paush Purnima

6^th February                            Wednesday                              Ekadashi Snan

10^th February                          Sunday                 Mauni Amavasya Snan (Main Bathing Day)

15^th February                          Friday                                     Basant Panchami Snan

17^th February                          Sunday                                    Rath Saptami Snan

18^th February                          Monday                                   Bhisma Ekadashi Snan
25^th February                          Monday                                   Maghi Purnima Snan
 

 To seaguls on river Ganga during Maha Kumbh mela at Allahabad

Lamps with flowers offered by devotees after the evening prayers on the banks of river Ganga at
Maha Kumbh Mela, in Allahabad

Devotees cross river Ganga  to participate during MAHA KUMBH MELA in Allahabad




 



     

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ABOUT MAHA KUMBH MELA

Kumbh Darshan - 2001

The Kumbh Festival – 2001 at Tirthraj Prayag began on the full moon night (Purnima) of the month of Paush. The Kumbh Festival is held at Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik every four years, but the Kumbh at Prayag has a special significance. The Kumbh Festival is marked by the fact that it is held at the banks of holy rivers every 12 years. In Prayag it is held on the banks of the rivers Ganga-Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, in Haridwar at Ganga and in Nasik at the Godavari. A great fair is held on these occasions on the banks of these rivers with a huge congregation of devoted pilgrims.

The Prayag Kumbh

This Kumbh is considered to be the most significant of all as it marks the direction of wisdom or light. This is the place where the sun, symbolizing wisdom, rises.
Creation of the universe is supposed to have originated here and it is supposed to be the center of the earth. Prajapati Brahma, the God of Creation, is said to have created the Universe after conducting the Ashwamedh Yagna at the Dashashwamedh Ghat here. The Dashashwamedh Ghat and the Brahmeshwar Temple still exist here as if as symbols of that holy yagna, and that is another reason for the special significance of the Prayag Kumbh. In fact Prayag and Kumbh are synonymous to each other.

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