Kumbh Over Years

Either belief in God is unconditional or its no belief at all. Similarly, belief in Kumbh is genuine.

Kumbh Mela or  Simhastha is where a bunch of people assemble out of faith to bathe in holy water and is a tradition been followed from thousands of years. Traditionally these fairs are held at four places: the Haridwar Kumbh Mela, the Prayag Kumbh Mela, the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha, and Ujjain Simhastha. The Kumbh Mela is held every three years, and switches between these locations. This fair returns to each location after a duration of every 12 years.

The smell of burning joss sticks; echoes of sadhus chanting prayers; millions of people gathering to take a dip in the holy water; this is how Kumbh Melas look like.

‘Kumbh’ literally means nectar. It is difficult to say when the Kumbh Mela exactly initiated. The story behind the mela goes back to the time when the gods (devas) used to reside on earth with asuras (demons). The Gods and demons came together to attain the pot of Amrut.When the asuras got to know of the devas plan to not share the nectar with them, they chased them for twelve days.

According to medieval Hindu mythology,  drops of Amrita (the drink of immortality) were dropped during fight with asuras at four places, while transporting it in a Kumbha (pot): Haridwar, Prayagraj, Nashik-Trimbakeshwar, and Ujjain. The festival is one of the largest tranquil gatherings in the world. The origin of the festival can be found in the venerable legend of Samudra manthan.

The Kumbh Mela is held on the dates when the waters of these hallowed rivers are said to turn into nectar. The dates are calculated according to the sequence of zodiac positions of Jupiter, the Sun and the Moon. Hindus believe that those who bathe in the divine waters during the Kumbh are eternally blessed by the spiritual. All their sins are washed away and they come one step closer to the conservancy.

From a tourist perspective, the Kumbh Mela is an enduring and daunting experience! However committed arrangements are made, especially for foreigners. Special tourist camps are set up, providing luxury tents with attached bathrooms, guides, and assistance for excursions and the government is also concerned with tight security.