What is Kumbh Mela ?
Kumbh Mela is a riverside festival which is being celebrated
after every twelve years. This religious fair is a Hindu pilgrimage of belief
where devotees assemble for bathing in the holy water of Kushavartha Teerth.
The Mela is celebrated alternately between Haridwar, Allahabad, Nisak and
Ujjain. The number of pilgrims attending this spirital fair every year is
certainly going to boggle your mind. Believe or not, more than 12 crore people
from all corners of the world travel for attending this fair. The fair has
attained immense fame across the world owing to the tremendous faith of people.
It is believed that the zodaic positions of the Moon, the Jupiter and the Sun
are combined to determine the date of this mela.
Significance of Kumbh Mela
It is believed that
bathing in the river during the mela purifies a person by removing all his
sins. Thus bathing in the sacred river body abduct the past karmas of the
devotees and thus they redeem themselves from the cycle of life and death.
People travel long distances and undergo enormous pain for availing the boons
of bathing in the holy river. This mela also brings all human beings together
as a wide number of people join this fair irrespective of caste, color and
creed.
Mythological origin
In accordance with the Hindu Mythology, the festival has its
origin during the Samudra manthan.As Legends say, the samudra manthan is a battle between the
Asuras (Evil power) and Devas (Gods) fot Amrita, which was considered to be the
Drink of immortality. The amrita which was produced during the churning of the
ocean, popularly known as Samundra Manthan , was placed in a Kumbha or pot. A
divine power flew away with the Kumbha with an eye to prevent the asuras to
drink the Amrita. It is believed that the divine carrier stops at the four
places where the Mela is being celebrated.