Kumbh Mela 2019: Meaning, symbolism and significance of the religious pilgrimage
Festivals in India are celebrated in a huge, joyous manner with great enthusiasm. For some, it is a day to celebrate and seek blessings for a good future and for some, festivals are a marked as a day to please the gods.
Kumbh mela is one of the largest festivals celebrated amongst Hindus. It is celebrated every three years.
People celebrate the festival by going on a pilgrimage in the hope of washing away their past sins. The mela has the largest gathering as lakhs and lakhs of devotees come from all over the country.
The mela is held every three years and the location switches between four different locations – Prayag, Ujjain, Nasik and Haridwar . So, the mela returns to each location after a span of 12 years.
Meaning of Kumbh mela
The meaning of kumbh is nectar. And it is said that the story behind the mela goes back to the time when the gods used to reside on the earth. It is said that Sage Durvasa’s curse had weakened them and the demons caused havoc in the world. Then Lord Brahma advised the Gods to churn out the nectar of immortality with the help of asuras. But the asuras came to know that the gods have planned not to share the nectar with them so they chased them for 12 days during which the nectar fell at four locations where kumbh mela is held.
The mela is held every three years and the location switches between four different locations – Prayag, Ujjain, Nasik and Haridwar . So, the mela returns to each location after a span of 12 years.
Meaning of Kumbh mela
The meaning of kumbh is nectar. And it is said that the story behind the mela goes back to the time when the gods used to reside on the earth. It is said that Sage Durvasa’s curse had weakened them and the demons caused havoc in the world. Then Lord Brahma advised the Gods to churn out the nectar of immortality with the help of asuras. But the asuras came to know that the gods have planned not to share the nectar with them so they chased them for 12 days during which the nectar fell at four locations where kumbh mela is held.
The exact dates of the mela are calculated according to the combination of the zodiac positions of Jupiter, the Sun and the Moon. This year the mela will be held from 15 January, Tuesday to 4 March, Monday.
The significance of bathing in the river
Hindus believe that bathing in the sacred water during the Kumbh mela makes them eternally blessed by the divine. Also, bathing in the river washes away the sins and you become one step closer to salvation.
Kumbh mela in 2013 attracted a crowd of approximately 10 crore people making a record.
Many holy men from different Hindu sects attend the mela. Some of them include Nagas (who do not wear any clothes), Kalpwasis (who bathe thrice a day) and urdhawavahurs (believe in putting the body through severe austerities).
The festival is around 2000 years old. The first written account of the mela was found in the account of the Chinese traveller Xuanzang, who visited India during the rule of king Harshavardhana.
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