|
It
happens once in 144 years and might give you a relief from
the cycle of birth and death. The Maha Kumbh Mela
in Jan-Feb 2001 also promises luxuries unheard of in the
earlier years.
THIRTY-FIVE
million people, 144 years, three rivers, six days
and four drops of nectar- this about sums up the significance
of the Maha Kumbh.
Hailed
by the Guinness Book Of World Records as "...the largest
number of human beings to ever assemble with a common
purpose the Maha Kumbh takes place once in 144 years
or after 12 Purna Kumbh Melas. And the millions will
include scions of the Dabur family, the Bajajs and
people like Madonna and Pierce Brosnan.
|
Kumbh
Mela is the time when mortals gather to bathe in the four
drops of nectar that were dropped in the four holy cities
of Allahabad, Hardwar, Ujjain and Nasik during the tug of
war that ensued during the churning of the seas by gods
and demons. Now with spirituality transcending boundaries
some Godmen even organise Kumbh Melas in New York.
The
millennium's first Maha Kumbh is in Allahabad or Prayag,
the holiest of the four cities because it the place of the
Sangam, or the confluence of three rivers - the Ganga, the
Yamuna and the invisible Saraswati.
The
Kumbh fair takes place when Jupiter enters Aquarius and the
sun enters Aries. This planetary position is said to medicate
the waters of the Ganges and turn it into nectar.
 |
They
say that the forces of creation are collected in one
vessel (kumbha) and a celebration (mela)
ensues. According to myths, the Gods (devas)
pleaded with Vishnu, the sustainer of the Universe,
to come to their aid. He suggested amrit manthan
(the churning of the primeval ocean to extract nectar).
Now Gods could not do this on their own so they made
a pact with the demons to share the nectar. |
They
churned the ocean with a paddle made out of Mount Meru and
Vishnu offered his own seat, the sheshnaag or the
giant sea serpent as the rope. The demons held the head
of the serpent and the Gods held the tail. Finally, the
ocean yielded her divine gifts in the form of a holy cow,
the flying horse, the lyre, Lakshmi (the goddess of fortune)
and Vishvakarma (the divine architect and constructor).
Last came Dhanavantri, the divine physician, bearing the
pitcher of Amrit.
Now
since the gods did not want the demons to attain immortality,
they grabbed the pot from the divine physician and tried
to escape. The demons and the Gods fought over the pot for
12 days (12 years in human time), till Vishnu came to their
assistance and severed the head of the serpent that the
demons were holding.
The
Gods got their pot of nectar, but not before four drops
had fallen on earth. The four drops fell at Allahabad, Hardwar,
Ujjain and Nasik. The Purna Kumbh Mela is held only at Allahabad
and Hardwar, once every 12 years. The Kumbh Mela however
is an annual event held in Ujjain in the months of October-November
and in Nasik in the months of July-August.
| |
|
 |
The
most conspicuous presence at the Kumbh is that of Naga
Sadhus. With their bodies smeared in ash and their long
matted hair they are an exotic sight to even an average
Indian. Constant exposure to the elements and rigorous
self-control makes them impervious to the extremes of
hot and cold. |
Then
there are the Urdhwavahurs, who believe in putting the body
through severe austerities. There are the Parivajakas, who
have taken a vow of silence and go about tinkling little
bells to get people out of their way. The Shirshasins stand
all 24 hours and meditate for hours standing on their heads.
Spending the entire month of Kumbh on the banks of Ganga,
meditating, performing rituals and bathing thrice a day,
are the Kalpvasis.
Then
there are devotees who throng the holy city throughout the
year and wash themselves, in the belief that the waters
of the river will cleanse them off their sins.
Orthodox
Hindus believe that a dip in the sacred waters on the auspicious
day will cleanse them of all the sins. This ensures their
salvation or freedom from the cycle of birth and death.
Ritual
bathing is a public act and is performed in the open and
on the banks of a river or stream. It includes the complete
submergence of the body under water and a libation to the
sun. The most auspicious day for the ritual bath at Kumbh
is on the day of the new moon.
 |
At
Prayag, the Kumbh Mela takes place in the month of Magha
(January-February) and the highest merit attached is
to the bath taken on the new moon day, when the Jupiter
is in Aries and both the Sun and the Moon are in Capricorn.
|
At
Hardwar, Kumbh Mela is held in the Hindu months of 'Phalgun'
and 'Chaitra', when the Sun passes to Aries and Jupiter
is in Aquarius. The bath at Ujjain, on the bank of the river
Kshipra is planned during the month of 'Vatshakha', when
these planets are in Libra.
At
Nasik, on the banks of Godavari (Narmada), the festival
is timed to take place in 'Shravana', when the three planets
are in Cancer.
In
the case of Prayag and Hardwar, in between two Purna
(full) Kumbh Melas, an intermediate one, called the
Ardha (half) Kumbh Mela is also held. The Ardha
Kumbha Mela is held at Prayag and Hardwar in the years
in which Purna Kumbha Mela is held at Ujjain and
Nasik, respectively.
Every
year in the month of 'Magha' (January-February) a fair,
known as Magha Mela, is held at Prayag at the confluence
of the Ganga, Yamuna and the Saraswati and is attended by
thousands. It begins on the Makara Sankranti, the
last day of the preceding month of 'Pausa'.
Joining
them are the spiritual tourists who come to India in search
of self. In the hustle, bustle and devotion that permeates
the place they manage to find a semblance of self. In the
earlier years there was not much difference between the
prince and the pauper and they were all a part of the crowd.
This year however, there are big players in the picture.
With giant tour and travel companies like Thomas Cook and
Cox & Kings putting it in their tour itinerary, tourists
are unlikely to face the problems they did earlier. At a
distance from the maddening crowds, apart from other comforts,
these special tents are even equipped with money changing
facilities.
| The
Auspicious Bathing Days |
| |
| |
|
 |
You
can bathe in the holy river any day of the year, but these
auspicious days are earmarked after consulting the panchang
or the almanac.
January 9, 2001: Paush Poornima -- The last full moon
of winter, many pilgrims will have reached and each day
more will pour in.
January 14, 2001: Makar Sankranti -- The day when Indian
skies are full of kites and the sun enters the constellation,
Capricorn. |
January
24, 2001: Mauni Amavasya -- Called the 'new moon of the
saints', on this day, the saints bathe in the sangam,
with more than five million people taking their bath in
the holy Ganges. This is the day when you initiate new
pupils into a holy monastic order.
January 29, 2001: Vasant Panchami -- The fifth day of
the brighter half of the lunar month, it marks the advent
of spring in North India.
February 8, 2001: Magh Purnima -- This is the full moon
of the month Magha (January-February).
February 21, 2001: Maha Shiv Ratri -- The birthday of
Lord Shiva and the night is spent singing devotional songs,
in praise of the God. |
Air:
The nearest airport Varanasi (135 kms) is connected by Indian
Airlines flights from Agra, Bhubaneswar, Mumbai, Delhi,
Khajuraho and Lucknow.
Rail:
Allahabad is an important rail terminus connected by rail
with all the major cities in India.
Fare (approx.): Calcutta-Allahabad Rs 1500 (AC-I), Rs 940
(AC-2A), Rs 750 (I), Rs 245 (II).
Road:
Allahabad is connected by road with the major cities in
India. Important road distances from Allahabad are:- Agra
483 kms, Delhi 612 kms, Lucknow 227 kms, Lumbini 406 kms,
Khajuraho 294 kms, Varanasi 127 kms, Mumbai 1,502 kms, Chitrakoot
128 kms.
Bus
Service: Direct buses are available from Allahabad to
Chitrakoot, Ayodhya, Varanasi, Lucknow and Kanpur
Staying
There
There
are many tent colonies springing up in and near Allahabad.
Many of them promise activities like yoga classes, Kerala
herbal oil massage and naturotherapy, a resident astrologer,
crafts, live performances and even an internet connection.
The rates of these luxury tents range from Rs 1000 to Rs
2000 for Indians and $25 to $ 50 a day for foreigners. With
the throng of tourists and devotees likely to descend this
year you'd be better off if you get an advance booking.
|
