Why Kumbhmela

Kumbh Mela - The Largest Congregation of Humanity

Kumbh Mela is the largest concentration of religious gathering in the world. Held once in 12 years this festival is a must visit during a trip to India.

Take a Dip Make a Wish

If you go by the Hindu mythologies, then this is the only time and place in the world where you can unburden your sins and achieve 'Nirvana' from the vicious cycle of birth and re birth. Take dips in the holy water of Ganges that is said to wash away all the sins of a person. Light a Diya and make a wish, they do come true!

Sojourn on the Ashrams on the Banks

To live among the Sadhus, who have dedicated their entire lives in meditation and fulfilling spiritual deeds is indeed a unique experience of life. In Haridwar there are many such Ashrams where tourists can stay to enjoy the life of a saint besides indulging into various Yoga and Meditation regimes.

Surrender to Peaceful Activities

Taking dips three times in a day, attending yoga classes, listening to the divine lectures and participating in the cultural programmes are just a few of the activities that one can enjoy during the famous Kumbh Mela in Haridwar. Travel to Haridwar and experience the inexperienced.

Significance of Kumbh Mela

Kumbh Mela is not just a mere festivity like Diwali and Holi, but holds lot of importance for people in India. People look up to Kumbh Mela with highest regard, as this event gives them a golden opportunity to liberate themselves from the miseries and sufferings of life. It enables them to take a holy dip in the sacred water and wash away all the sins they have committed in the past. People come from different parts of the country to be a part of this sacred ceremony. It is believed that taking a holy dip in water paves way for attainment of Moksha.

Rig Veda has a mention about the significance of convergence of river Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati at Prayag or Sangam.

References can be found about the significance of this ritual in Varaha Purana and Matsya Purana as well. There is a belief that the ashram of the learned Bharadvaja, where Lord Ram, Laxman and Sita lived at the time of their exile, was situated at Sangam. It is said that a number of saints including the great Shankaracharya and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited Sangam and observed the Kumbh Mela. The great Indian epics such the Ramayana and Mahabharata have mentioned that a yagna was conducted by Lord Brahma at Sangam.

Sacred Bath in Kumbh Mela

Bathing in the holy river on the auspicious occasion of Kumbh Mela is the most important activity for millions of people in India. A large tented city is erected and pilgrims stay at tents owned by Pandas (religious and spiritual guides) and at various ashrams. Others will just camp on the ground or turn up for the actual bathing day. Some of these bathing days are designated "royal," and it is on these days that the naga sadhus (naked mendicants) parade and bathe. On other days there will still be people bathing and other events and random processions.

Rituals Performed at the Kumbh Mela

The main ritual performed at that Kumbh Mela is the ritual bath. Hindus believe that submerging themselves in the sacred waters on the most auspicious day of the new moon will absolve them and their ancestors of sin, thus ending the cycle of rebirth. Pilgrims start lining up to bathe from around 3 a.m. on this day.

As the sun comes up, the different groups of sadhus move in procession towards the river to bathe. The Nagas usually lead, while each group tries to outdo the others with more grandeur and fanfare. The moment is magical, and everyone is absorbed in it.

After bathing, the pilgrims wear fresh clothes and proceed to worship by the river bank. They then walk around listening to discourses from the various sadhus.

How to Reach kumbhmela @ Allahabad

How to Reach Allahabad


The next Maha Kumbh Mela will be held in Allahabad in the year 2013, from 27th January to 25th February. Allahabad, also known by the ancient name of Prayag, is the second oldest city in India and is revered as one of the most holy places for the Hindus. The amalgamation of three great rivers of India - Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythological Saraswati, happens here; and the point where these three meet is known as Sangam. Being an important religious, educational, and administrative center of India, Allahabad is well connected to all the major cities of India via Air, Rail, and Road. If you are looking forward to being a part of this grand gathering of millions of living souls, then brief information on how to reach Allahabad for the Maha Kumbh Mela 2013 is given below.

Travelling to Allahabad

By Air
The Allahabad Domestic Airport, also known as Bamrauli Air Force Base, is 12 Km from Allahabad and though it is operational for domestic flights, it serves only a limited number of cities in India. Other two nearest airports from Allahabad are Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport in Varanasi (150 Km) and Amausi International Airport in Lucknow (200 Km). Both these airports are well connected to rest of the major cities of India. Daily flights from major airlines like Air India, Air India Express, GoAir, IndiGo, Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines, and Spice Jet are available. Local cabs and Interstate buses can be boarded from near the airports to reach Allahabad.

By Rail
Being the headquarters of the North Central Railway Zone in India, Allahabad has eight railway stations within its city limits, all of which are well connected to many of the major cities of India namely - Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bhopal, Gwalior, Jaipur etc. Cabs, Auto Rickshaws, and City buses are available near all the railway stations to reach your onward destination.

By Road
As Allahabad is located in the heartland of the great Indian plains, the road density is quite high in these parts and is well connected to rest of the country via National and State Highways. The NH2 runs right through the city while NH27 starts from Allahabad and ends at Mangawan in Madhya Pradesh. NH96 connects to NH28 in Faizabad and brings together two major centers of Hindu Pilgrimage - Allahabad and Ayodhya. The three bus stands of Allahabad cater to different routes of the country through interstate bus services. Local transportation like tourist taxis, cabs, auto rickshaws, and local buses are also available that connects you to various parts of Allahabad and some neighboring cities.

Distance from Major Cities of India
Agra 433 KM
Kanpur 200 KM
Ayodhya 167 KM
Mumbai 1444 KM
Lucknow 204 KM
Kolkata 799 KM
Chennai 1790 KM
Patna 368 KM
Trivandrum 2413 KM
Delhi 643 KM
Udaipur 956 KM
Varanasi 125 KM
Jaipur 673 KM
Accommodation
Deluxe Hotels, Budget Hotels, Heritage Hotels, Guesthouses, Dharamshalas, and Camps; Allahabad offers all kinds of accommodations in different locations, allowing you to choose one as per your comfort. You can book Allahabad Hotels online through Online Hotels in India.

Hotels in Allahabad

Hotel Yatrik, Allahabad
Hotel Yatrik in Allahabad is an ideal heaven for the leisure as well as business travellers visiting Allahabad. It provides all the essential facilities and comforts required to make your stay at Allahabad memorable.

Hotel Samrat, Allahabad
Hotel Samrat is conveniently located in the Centre of Posh Commercial area Centre of Allahabad. Apart from its luxurious interiors it also provides a comfortable stay in the hotel. The Hotel Samrat is ideal for the tourists visiting Prayag, the confluence of Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati.

Hotel Presidency, Allahabad
Hotel Presidency in Allahabad has well furnished, air-conditioned, luxurious rooms, banquet & conference facilities, and recreational facilities which makes it a perfect heaven for the business as well as the leisure travellers.

Kumbh Mela at Allahabad

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that it is the city of God as the name itself, Allahabad, in Persian means Settled by God. It for this reason, which has been innumerably mentioned in the ancient Hindu texts, and the the history of the place, both mythological and factual that makes it one of the most fascinating and one among the main holy cities in India, special to the hearts of Hindus in India and abroad. It’s the mythological history according to which, when Lord Brahma was done with creating the world, offered his first sacrifice here. Hence the justification of its ancient name Prayag, meaning Place of Sacrifice. The place also holds a special significance according to the Hindu scriptures for holding the confluence of three of the most sacred rivers of India: Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati at Triveni Sangam, which becomes the nucleus of all celebrations of Kumbh Mela.

Celebrations At Allahabad Kumbh Mela
It is believed in the ancient times during an ongoing war between the demons and the demigods for the possession of the elixir of immortality, a few drops fell to earth at four places: Allahabad, Haridwar, Nasik, and Ujjain. And it is at each of the four places that Kumbh Mela, the gathering of millions: devout and common witnesses from all over India and rest of the world, is held and is a sight like no other. Based on astrological calculations it returns to each place after a gap of twelve years, bigger each time.

The story that the drops of nectar of immortality fell near Sangam is believed by the people to have given mystical powers to the place as millions gather at the ghats to purge themselves of all sins by taking a dip in the waters and attain Moksha (Salvation). Young and old, fit and frail; all regions, castes, and creed aside, it becomes the single most brilliantly unifying experience ever. The place itself, overrun by Naga Sadhus, who never wear any clothes and are always smeared in ash; Urdhwavahurs, non-indulgent in physical pleasures; Parivajakas, having taken a vow of silence; and Shirshasins, who stand for all 24 hours and meditate, transforms as if from another realm.

Allahabad Kumbh Mela Dates
In Allahabad 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 2013, beginning from 27th January to 25th of February; 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 2001, 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.

Maha Kumbh Allahabad 2013 Schedule

Dates of Kumbh Mela in Allhabad, India, 2013

Kumbha Mela is the largest religious gathering in the world. In the year 2013, it's the turn of the holy city Allhabad (Prayag) to host this religious extravaganza. The complete date-wise schedule of Maha Kumbh Mela 2013 is as follows:

Date (2013) Day Event
27th January Sunday Paush Purnima
6th February Wednesday Ekadashi Snan
10th February Sunday Mauni Amavasya Snan (Main Bathing Day)
15th February Friday Basant Panchami Snan
17th February Sunday Rath Saptami Snan
18th February Monday Bhisma Ashtami Snan
25th February Monday Maghi Purnima Snan

History of Kumbh Mela

History of Kumbh Mela


Kumbh derives its name from the immortal Pot of Nectar, which the Demigods (Devtas) and Demons (Asuras) fought over, described in ancient Vedic scriptures known as the Puranas. It is these Vedic literatures that have stood the test of time, out of which the tradition has evolved into the one that the world now knows as The Kumbh Mela. Legend tells a tale from the bygone days of the universe when the demigods and the demons conjointly produced the nectar of immortality. The demigods, because cursed, were crippled of fear that eventually made them weak. The task being too sturdy for them alone, the demigods made a mutual agreement with the demons to complete it in full and share the nectar of immortality in half. It is said that the demigods and the demons assembled on the shore of the milk ocean that lies in the celestial region of the cosmos. And it began!

For the task of churning the milk ocean, the Mandara Mountain was used as the churning rod, and Vasuki, the king of serpents, became the rope for churning. With the demigods at Vasuki’s tail and the demons at his head, the churning began. At first, the churning of the milk ocean produced a deadly poison which Lord Shiva drank without being affected. As Lord Shiva drank the poison, a few drops fell from his hands which were licked by scorpions, snakes, and similar other deadly creatures. Also, during the churning, the Mandara Mountain began to sink deep into the ocean, seeing which Lord Vishnu incarnated as a great tortoise and supported the mountain on His back. Finally, many hurdles and 1000 years later, Dhanwantari appeared with the Kumbh of immortal nectar in his hands. The demigods, being fearful of the demons' ill intent, forcibly seized the pot with its safety entrusted onto the four Gods - Brahaspati, Surya, Shani, and Chandra.

Demons, after learning that their part of the agreement has not been kept, went after the demigods and for 12 days and 12 nights, the chase continued. Wherever the demigods went with the pot of nectar, fierce fighting ensued. It is believed that during this chase, a few drops from the Kumbh fell at four places - Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nasik. There is also a prevalent legend that it was actually the demons that were being chased by the demigods for 12 days and 12 nights, during which the drops of elixir of immortality fell at these four places. These four places are since believed to have acquired mystical powers. Because 12 days of Gods are equivalent to 12 years for humans; the Kumbh Mela is celebrated once every 12 years in each of the four places - banks of river Godavari in Nasik, river Kshipra in Ujjain, river Ganges in Haridwar, and at the Sangam of Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati in Allahabad, where the drops are believed to have fallen. Millions of devout, come together to partake in ritualistic bathing and ceremonies to cleanse themselves of all sins.

Timeline of Kumbh Mela (Modern Times)
1980: Nasik
1980: Ujjain
1986: Haridwar
1989: Allahabad
1992: Nasik
1992: Ujjain
1998: Haridwar
2001: Allahabad
2003: Nasik
2004: Ujjain
2010: Haridwar

Bathing Dates for Maha Kumbh

Ardha Kumbha and Maha Kumbha are the occasions when millions of people gather to take holy dip in the sacred waters. This is main reason for one to attend the Maha Kumbha and the Ardha Kumbha festival. It is believed that a holy dip in sacred rivers during Maha Kumbh or Ardh kumbh takes human out of the circle of life and death and one attains Moksha. Devotees, saints/sadhus turn up in great number from all over the world to take a dip in the holy waters of rivers like the Ganges, Yamuna and the mythological Saraswati at Parayag (Sangam). According to traditions these holy rivers offers purity, wealth, fertility and wash away the sins of all those who take bath.

The important dates of Maha Kumbh Mela 2013 are provided below:
27th January (Sunday) - Paush Purnima
6th February (Wednesday) - Ekadashi Snan
10th February (Sunday) - Mauni Amavasya Snan (Main Bathing Day)
15th February (Friday) - Basant Panchami Snan
17th February (Sunday) - Rath Saptami Snan
18th February (Monday) - Bhisma Ashtami Snan
25th February (Monday) - Maghi Purnima Snan