Kumbh Mela (Khumba Mela Festival)

Member Name: travelnotes

Product:	Khumba Mela Festival
Date:	04/04/01 (1326 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Once in a lifetime experience

Disadvantages: Very Crowded.

The Kumbh Mela is the largest festival in the Hindu calendar, held once every 12 years in the north Indian city of Allahabad.

This ancient festival pays homage to a battle between the gods and demons for a pitcher (kumbh). Legend has it that four drops of nectar fell from the pitcher and landed in Allahabad (Prayag), Hardwar, Ujjain and Nasik. A smaller Kumbh Mela is rotated through the other holy cities every three years.

The 2001 Kumbh Mela ran from January 9th to February 21st.

Millions of Hindus made their pilgrimage to the massive tented city beside the River Ganges and immersed themeselves where three rivers meet -- the Ganges, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati -- together known as the Sangam.

To the believers, bathing in the river is said to purge them of their sins and break the cycle of birth and death. Even non-hindus journey to Allahabad for the Kumbh Mela; if only to witness the spectacle.

Major Kumbh Mela Bathing Dates -- 2001

9 January -- Paush Purnima
14 January -- Makar Sankranti
24 January -- Mauni Amavasya (main bathing day)
29 January -- Basant Panchami
8 February -- Magh Purnima
21 February -- Mahashivratri

If you didn't make it to the Allahabad Kumbh Mela this year, the mini Kumbh (Magh Mela) is held annually; also between January and February. The Ardh Kumbh is also held six years after a Kumbh Mela and has the same main bathing days and religious significance as the Kumbh.

===== Links =====

The Gateway to Kumbh:
http://www.kumbhallahabad.com/home.htm
The history, myth, astrological significance and the importance of bathing during Kumbh Parv. Find out more about the history of Kumbh Mela at Allahabad, the years when the past Kumbh fell, etc.

Kumbh Mela Official Site:
http://www.webdunia.com/kumbhupinfo/
In Hindi.

Indian Festivals:
http://welcometoindia.com/culture/cultfrm.asp
There are many col
ourful times to be in India. This list of festivals will give you an idea of what's on where.

UP Tourism:
http://www.up-tourism.com/
Tourism in Uttar Pradesh -- from Agra to Varanasi; taking in Allahabad and the Taj Mahal.

===== Footnote =====

Sadly I can't post photos here, but you can go over to the doo you club on yahoo to see some I made earlier:
http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/dooyoo

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