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Kumbh Mela Festival in India

Looking to attain 'Nirvana', 'Moksha' orAlthough, all new moon nights or
salvation following Hindu strictures?'amavasyas' are auspicious for a holy
Join in the spiritual paths of the Kumbhdip, on this particular day, pilgrims do
festivities being celebrated at Prayagnot utter a word or keep "maun"(silent)
or ancient Allahabad in North India.until they bathe in the holy waters of
Prayag is the holy site that marks thethe Ganges.
confluence of the mystical river,The three auspicious Hindu dates -Basant
Saraswati (not physically visible butPanchami (23rd January), Maaghi Purnima
believed to flow in the recesses of the(2nd February) and Maha Shivratri (16th
earth or to exist on the spiritualFebruary) in 2007 is expected to add to
plane) - joining the two most ancientthe gusto amongst monastic orders and
and revered Indian rivers-the Ganges andHindu believers to uphold their ranks in
the Yamuna.the various spiritual folds.
This 'Sangam' or the confluence of theThe Kumbh festivities could be reckoned
holy rivers is considered sacred. Theas a colorful pageant of diversities in
Hindu belief is to scatter or immersethe Hindu religion, exposing facets of
one's cremated ashes at the 'Sangam' tothe cult or occult nature of Hinduism as
attain 'Moksha' or salvation- a freedoma diverse religious order. Hermits,
from the infinite cycle of life andsages, learned yogis and miracle men all
death. The Maha Kumbh Mela or the greatrub shoulders and exhibit their
festival of the ethereal urn symbolizesspiritual prowess through their
attainment of this state of 'Nirvana' or"chakraa" or meditative senses to
'Moksha'.commoners and missionaries alike.
The Kumbh Mela, one of the mostThe Kumbh Melas attract all sorts, from
important of Hindu spiritual gatheringstraditional to non-traditional followers
takes place every three years inof Hinduism from the Himalayas, Swamis
rotation between the four major Hinduand missionaries from South of India and
pilgrim centers-Allahabad, Haridwar,also from shores abroad -Africa, Japan,
Ujjain and Nashik. Hindu believers inEurope and also America.
millions congregate at these locationsThe faces of ash-smeared mendicants, the
to cleanse themselves, symbolizing the"Digambers", add to the mystic appeal of
attainment of 'Moksha'.the Kumbh "snan". The diversity of the
Haridwar is located in the state oflearned men and their commoner devotees
Uttaranchal Pradesh where the holybut speak volumes about the overwhelming
Ganges flows in from the Himalayanmass appeal that India continues to
plains and is believed to flow out somewield over other countries
15,500 miles towards the Bay of Bengalspiritually---a trend which has
in the East coast of India. The ancientintensified with tour operators cashing
city of Ujjain is located on the bankson this season and developing tour
of the Ksipra River in Madhya Pradeshpackages around the Kumbh Mela and its
and Nashik on the banks of the Godavaridestination.
River flows past the West coast ofThough there is no air link to
Maharashtra.Allahabad, airports from metro cities
The year 2007 cites important in thecould be accessed directly through
history of the Ardh Kumbh asairports in Varanasi and Lucknow about
celebrations gather momentum at147 kms and 210 kms respectively from
Allahabad this year. Paush Purnima (3rdAllahabad. There are rail links from
January) and Makar Sankranti (14th /15thAllahabad to cities like Calcutta Delhi,
January) solemnized "Gangasagar Snan" inPatna, Guwhati, Chennai, Mumbai,
multitudes.Gwalior, Meerut, Lucknow Kanpur and
More zest is expected in Allahabad onVaranasi. Allahabad is on National
the 19th of January, the Mauni AmavasyaHighways (NH) 2 and NH 27 and taxis,
or the "New Moon of the Saints" day.cycles and auto rickshaws are the common
This day is the first and main bathingmeans of transport within the city. Most
or cleansing day for holy folks wheretours are locally centered on the
gilded and naked processions byAllahabad city, the Fort and the
mendicants mark spiritual passions. ItUniversity.
is also a day when new members are2007 is also likely to unfold the
initiated into the innumerable holytwelfth "Dharma Sansad" or religious
monastic orders or "Akharas" for thecongregation of the Vishwa Hindu
first time.Parishad and arrangements are on for the
The 2007 "Mauni Amavasya" hopes tothird Vishwa Hindu Sammelan or World
witness some 20 million pilgrims takingHindu gathering to be held to be held on
holy dips at the 'Sangam' in AllahabadFebruary 11, 2007 within the Ardh Kumbh
or ancient "Prayag Raj". Devout Hinduspremises. Such conferences depict the
believe that on Mauni Amavasya, the sun,enormity of the Kumbh Mela as a breeding
moon and the planets - Venus and Mercuryground for religious discourse and
are in the zodiac of Capricorn, a rarediscussions and challenge the devotees
but perfect alignment of planets.to learn and unlearn from these talks.
The day deems special because the aboveThe origin of the Kumbh Mela dates back
planetary position enables the sun'sto the Hindu mythological tale of "Sagar
rays, when they fall on the Ganges toManthan" (the Great Churning of the
turn the river water into nectar orOcean) which resulted in the pitcher of
'Amrit', hence a dip in the holy rivernectar or the "Amrit Kumbh" to emerge
is akin to drinking nectar on this day.from the ocean.



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