Kumbh Mela
Kumbh Mela or the Maha Kumbh is the largest religious gathering in the World and a center of mass Hindu pilgrimage. Kumbh Mela witnesses millions of devotees taking dip in the holy rivers in four Indian cities viz, Prayag (Allahabad) at the confluence of three rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati, Haridwar on the bank of river Ganga, Nasik on the bank of river Godavari and Ujjain on the bank of river Shipra.
Legends
Kumbha is a Sanskrit word for Pitcher. The legend says once the Gods (devtas) and Demons (asuras) got together to churn the ocean to extract Amrit ( nector of immortality). After years of their struggle, Shri Dhanvantri emerged from the ocean with a Kumbh ( pitcher) of Amrit – Amrit Kalash.
Rituals
The main ritual performed at the Kumbh Mela is the ritual bath. Taking a dip in the sacred water of the holy rivers during the auspicious Kumbh Mela is considered to wash away all the past sins and leads to the attainment of Moksha - freedom from the cycle of birth and death.
Maha Kumbh 2013
The last two occurrence of Kumbh Mela was the The Maha Kumbh Mela in Haridwar in 2010 and the Ardh Kumbh Mela in Prayag in 2007. The next Maha Kumbh Mela will be celebrated in Prayag ( Allahabad) from January 27th2013 to February 25th 2013.
