Kumbh Prayagraj (Allahabad) ~ TaxidiGuru

Welcome to Kumbh Yatra / KumbhMela Prayagraj

The word Kumbh (the sacred Pitcher)

Kumbh Mela/ Kumbh Mela, the largest congregation of pilgrims on the planet, listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage under UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) after ‘yoga’ and ‘Nouroz’,

The Sangam (Origin From Sanskrit saṃgama:-.A confluence of rivers, especially that of the Ganges and Jamuna/ Yamuna at Allahabad) Kumbh and Maha Kumbh with an enormous temporary township springing up on the vacant land on the Allahabad side of the river. The legend goes thus- the gods and the demons fight for a pot of nectar (Amrit Kumbh): the nectar of immortality. Lord Vishnu, disguising himself as an enchantress (Mohini), seized the nectar from the demons. While fleeing from the evil ones, Lord Vishnu passed the nectar on to his winged mount, Garuda. The demons finally caught up with Garuda and in the ensuing struggle, a few drops of the precious nectar fell on Allahabad, Nasik, Haridwar and Ujjain. Since then, the Kumbh Mela has been held in all these places, alternatively, every 12 years.

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Kumbh Mela:

Kumbh Mela is a Hindu pilgrimages of faith in which not only Hindus but also different religious preachers also gather to impart their preaching to pupils and take bathe in a sacred river. It is the world’s largest religious gathering.

Kumbh Mela (the festival of the sacred Pitcher) is the largest peaceful congregation of pilgrims on earth, during which participants bathe or take a dip in a sacred river. Devotees believe that by bathing in the Ganges one is freed from sins liberating her/him from the cycle of birth and death. Millions of people reach the place without any invitation. The congregation includes ascetics, saints, sadhus, aspirants-kalpavasis and visitors.

Haridwar, Allahabad (Prayagraj), Nasik and Ujjain are the locations where the festival is held in every four year at one of the four places . Thus the Kumbh Mela is held at each of these four places every twelfth year.

(“Half”) Kumbh Mela is held at only two places, Hardwar and Allahabad, every sixth year. The rivers at these four places are: the Ganges (Ganga) at Haridwar, the confluence (Sangam) of the Ganges and the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati at Allahabad, the Godawari at Nasik, and the Shipra at Ujjain.

KUMBH MELA– Prayagraj

In Allahabad every six (6) year it is celebrated in the month of January-February when Jupiter is in Aries or Taurus and Sun and Moon are in Capricorn during the Hindu month of Magha. In the year 2019, beginning from 15th January to 04th March; all this will once again be the centre of attraction and attention from world over. Estimates suggest that in the Maha Kumbh Mela held in Allahabad in the year 2019, nearly 60 million took a bath at the occasion and if the forecasts are to be believed, the next one will garner an even bigger gathering than the previous one.

PRAYAG DIVINE KUMBH CAMP

Kumbh – every 6 years

Maha Kumbh – every 12 years

Its primary bearers, however, belong to akhadas and ashrams, religious organizations, or are individuals living on alms. Kumbh Mela plays a central spiritual role in the country, exerting a mesmeric influence on ordinary Indians. The event encapsulates the science of astronomy, astrology, spirituality, ritualistic traditions, and social and cultural customs and practices, making it extremely rich in knowledge. As it is held in four different cities in India, it involves different social and cultural activities, making this a culturally diverse festival. Knowledge and skills related to the tradition are transmitted through ancient religious manuscripts, oral traditions, historical travelogues and texts produced by eminent historians. However, the teacher-student relationship of the sadhus in the ashrams and akhadas remains the most important method of imparting and safeguarding knowledge and skills relating to Kumbh Mela.

Also see: More about Kumbh

UPCOMING EVENT :-

A) MAHA KUMBH MELA-HARDWAR-2022

Haridwar (The Gateway to God) : Hardwar stands as the gateway to the four pilgrimages of Uttarakhand. Geographically and geological, Hardwar, lying at the feet of Shiva’s hills, i.e., Shivaliks, in the Hardwar district of Uttarakhand, is a doorway.
Suryavanshi prince Bhagirath performed penance here to salvage the souls of his ancestors who had perished due to the curse of sage Kapila. The penance was answered and the river Ganga trickled forth from Lord Shiva’s locks and its bountiful water revived the sixty thousand sons of king Sagara. In the traditional of Bhagirath, devout Hindus stand in the sacred waters here, praying for salvation of their departed elder. It is doorway to the sources of the Ganga and the Yamuna, 3000 to 4500 meters up into the snowy ranges of the central Himalayas. The ‘Aarti’ worship of the Ganga after sunset and the floating ‘dia’ (lamp) is a moving ritual.

The observance of Maha Kumbh Mela has achieved international popularity as “The biggest act of faith.” Millions of pilgrims come to participate in the holy event of Maha Kumbh with a tremendous faith. They have a “persistent trust in something sublime”. The pilgrims come from all walks of life, with a belief that their sins will be washed off in the holy waters of the sacred river Ganges if they take a dip during the Kumbh but the actual and more science based reasons are different. It is actually the position of stars and constellations during the Kumbh that makes it significant to take a dip in the river at that time. Actually Kumbh Mela takes place during an auspicious planetary position that is believed to medicate the Ganges waters with a concentration of certain rays due to their position and turn the river into nectar. Millions of devotees arrive to purify their inner self through holy bathing rituals. (Possibly a lot of skin diseases are cured during that time).

The religious history of Kumbh Yatra (Kumbh Mela) remains associated with numerous legends. There is an interesting legend which relates to the origin of the Kumbh Yatra (Kumbh Mela). Hindus believe that Lord Brahma gave gods a piece of advice to rid them of their weakness, caused during the creation of the earth. Following Lord Brahma’s advice, the gods began to churn the ocean to obtain amrit from its waters. As the task was quite tough, the gods sought the assistance of demons. The gods, in return, made a deal with the demons that the latter could have half of the nectar that was too obtained from the ocean. The demons agreed to it. However, after the gods became successful in procuring the nectar, they tried to run away without sharing half of it with the demons, as was promised in the deal, a fight ensued. For twelve days and twelve nights (equivalent to twelve human years) the Devas and Asuras fought in the sky for the pot of amrita. It is believed that during the battle, Lord Vishnu (incarnated as Mohini-Murti) flew away with the Kumbha of elixir spilling drops of amrita at four places: Allahabad (Prayag), Hardwar, Ujjain and Nasik.

B) MAHA KUMBH MELA-Prayagraj-2025

It is the power of faith that can part a river, move mountains, and endure the hardships that come bundled up for being an integral part of Kumbh Mela, a congregation of millions, gathered together to be freed from the vicious earthly cycle of life and death and move towards a heavenly realm, which knows no suffering or pain. It’s the mythological history of India and the sacred religious texts that bind us carnal souls to an eternal hope – things will be better, without the ever-imminent fear of them getting worse that cripples us here. “An eternal life free of sins” is the promise that comes attached with the magnificent event of Kumbh Mela. It’s a promise to which millions want to be bound with, and it is this promise that has made Kumbh Mela what it is today.
when Jupiter is in Aries or Taurus and Sun and Moon are in Capricorn during the Hindu month of Magha (January-February).

C) KUMBH MELA-NASIK (TRIMBAKESHWAR) 2027

The Nasik Kumbhmela celebration is held once every 12 years in Nashik – it is scheduled for 2015. It draws millions of devotees and tourists from all over the country and the world.

Trimbakeshwar is a holy town that houses one of the twelve Jyotirlingas in India. It also is the origin of the river Godavari and is situated 38 kms away from Nasik. The Sinhasta Kumbh Mela is held once in 12 years in Nashik and Trimbakeshwar. According to historical records, Nasik is one of four places where the elixir of immortality, the ‘amrit’, fell to earth from a pitcher as gods and demons were engaged in the tussle to gain the ownership of the jar full of ‘amrit’. The Kumbh Mela rotates among the four holy sites every three years. The Kumbh Mela is marked by millions of devotees’ plunge into the river Godavari that is believed would cleanse their souls leading to salvation. A ritual bath at a predetermined time and place is the major event of the festival.

D) SIMHASTHA KUMBH MELA-UJJAIN-2028

Ujjain is an ancient city of Malwa region in central India, on the eastern bank of the Kshipra River and is today a part of the state of Madhya Pradesh. It is regarded as one of the seven sacred cities (Sapta Puri) of the Hindus and is one of the four sites along with Prayag (Allahabad), Hardwar and Nasik that host the Kumbh Mela, and attracts a millions of Hindu pilgrims from around the world. It is also the place where Lord Krishna, along with Balarama and Sudama, received his education from Maharshi Sandipani.

Ujjain is enriched with several religious shrines such as Bade Ganeshji Ka Mandir, Mahakaleshwar, Vikram Kirti Temple and many others. The indomitable spirit of Ujjain is best exemplified by the legend of an ancient banyan tree named Siddhwat. The tree is believed to possess extraordinary spiritual vibrations and holy men meditate under it while others worship it.

There is also an interesting tale behind the sanctity of the city. Its origin is ascribed to the mythological legend of Sagar Manthan. The story goes that after the nectar was discovered; there was a chase between the gods and the demons to have the nectar first so as to attain immortality. During this chase a drop of nectar spilled and fell on Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik, and this again manifested in the Kumbh Mela being celebrated in Ujjain in every 12 years, thus making the city a sacred place.

Apart from the mythological legends, the city has a long and distinguished history that it has witnessed legendary rulers including the renowned king Chandragupta II, great scholars such as Brahmagupta and Bhaskaracharya, and literary gems like Kalidasa.

On the occasion of Kumbh Mela the divinity and spiritual aroma of Ujjain meets its extreme peak when the millions of devotees take dips and worship sacred River Shipra. Sages and devotees from every nook and corner attend the religious ceremony of Kumbh Mela to attain salvation and libration from the vicious cycle of birth-death-rebirth.

The commemoration of Mela at Ujjain is known as ‘Simhastha Kumbh Mela’, and the major attraction of this festival is ‘Shahi Snan’ (royal bath) which takes place on predetermined dates varying every year. It is believed that those who get a royal bath in holy Shipra River on the occasion of Kumbh Mela can wash their sins of all previous births. The devotees consider it as an opportunity to get them revived from the never ending birth cycle.

‘Simhastha Kumbh Mela’ in Ujjain is the unique combination of divinity and purity, which is experienced when the crowd of ash-dubbed sages, priests, devotees gets fused together with the roaring of elephants and camels. People who witness the spiritual fest feel good fortune by their side and sense positive aroma purifying their souls and thoughts.

The next ‘Simhastha Kumbh Mela’ in Ujjainwill be held from 22nd April 2016 to 21st May 2028. The Bathing Dates are not yet announced. Please be in touch with us for Bathing dates at Ujjain.

HOW TO REACH ALLAHABAD FOR KUMBH MELA

Reach to Delhi (IGI Airport) then take a flight/train for Prayagraj.
Reach to Lucknow International Airport then take a flight/bus/train for Prayagraj.
Reach to Varanasi International Airport then take a flight/bus/train for Prayagraj.
For Domestic persons take flight/bus/train for Prayagraj.

For Kumbh Allahabad/ Prayagraj: How to reach for Allahabad/ Prayagraj

Best flight way to reach for Kumbh 2019 from …..

By Flight reach to Varanasi, then by bus/car or helicopter reach to Allahabad(Prayagraj). By bus/Car it takes hardly 2 hrs of drive but by helicopter it takes 20-30 minutes.

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