Kumbh Mela

Kumbh Mela is a big festival of the Hindu religion in which crores of devotees come to take bath in the holy river of the Ganges in Haridwar, The Ganga, the Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers confluence in Allahabad, Nashik (Godavari), and Ujjain (Shipra).

In Kumbh Mela, Kumbh means pitcher, jugger, utensil, and the word Mela means to unite, join, gather in one place or attend a community festival in particular. In this way, the Kumbh Mela celebrated every twelfth year, but in Prayag, there is also a Ardh Kumbh in a gap of six years between two Kumbh festivals.

This fair starts on the day of Makar Sankranti when the Sun and Moon enter the Scorpio sign and Jupiter in the Aries sign. Yog on this day is known as Kumbh Snan Yog, and this day also considered to be auspicious because it believed that on this day, the doors of heaven are opened, and by bathing on this day, the soul can easily attain heaven and all your sins washed away. Kumbh Mela has great importance in Hinduism.

Traditionally, four fairs are widely recognized as the Kumbh Melas: the Allahabad Kumbh Mela, Haridwar Kumbh Mela, the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha, and Ujjain Simhastha.

These four fairs are held periodically after 12 years at one of the following places by rotation:

Allahabad(Prayagraj), Haridwar, Nashik district (Nashik and Trimbak), and Ujjain.

The main festival site is located on the banks of a river: the Ganges(Ganga) at Haridwar; the confluence (Sangam) of the Ganges and the Yamuna and the invisible Sarasvati at Allahabad; the Godavari at Nashik; and the Shipra at Ujjain.

Bathing in these rivers is thought to cleanse a person of all their sins.It will witness millions of pilgrims, different akharas, Sadhus and number of Hindu organisations.

This year (2021) Maha Kumbh will be held at Haridwar. The bathing dates and other important dates are mentioned below:-

Shahi Snan :- i) 11th March, 2021 (Maha Shivratri) ii) 12th April, 2021 (Somvati Amamvasya) iii) 14th April, 2021 (Baisakhi) iv) 27th April, 2021 (Chaitra Purnima)

Snan :- i) 14th January, 2021 (Makar Sankranti) ii) 11th February, 2021 (Mauni Amavasya) iii) 16th February, 2021 (Basant Panchami) iv) 21st April, 2021 (Ram Navami)

Another Important date is 27th February, 2021 (Maghi Purnima).

Kumbh Mela 2021 will continue from 14th January till 27th April at Haridwar.