Kumbha Mela

Here goes some of the images shot during 1st Shahi Snan

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The origin of the Kumbh is quite old and associated with Samudramanthan (churning of the primordial dea) and during the Samudramanthan Kalasha (pot of nectar of immortality).

Purana says that in the north of Himalayas, in the Khirasamuda, Devtas and the Asuras jointly conducted Samudramanthan. Mandar Parbat acted as Manthana Danda and Basuki Nag played the role of rope used in the manthan. Lord Bishnu took the avtar of Kurma and he took Mandar Parbat on his back. During the manthan process, one by one Puspak Ratha, Airabat hasti, Parijat Puspa, Koustava, Laxmi, Suravi and at last Dhanwantari came out with Amritakumbha. Dhanwantari handed over the Kumbha to Indra Devta. Indra then gave the custody of the Amrita Kumbha to his son Jayanta. Instigated by the Devta’s, Jayanta ran way with the kumbha towards Swarga. Asuracharya Sukra got very much annoyed with this and ordered Asura’s to capture the kumbha. War broke out between Devta’s and Asura’s. The battle lasted for twelve days and then the Devta’s were defeated. During this period, Devta’s hid the kumbha in four places which were Prayag (Allahabad), Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik.

Since then, Kumbhamela is held at this four places. Since twelve days in Devlok is equivalent to twelve years in Earth. A Purna Kumbh takes place after every twelve years and a Ardha Kumbh after every six years.

Since Surya (Sun), Chandra (Moon) and Brihaspati were appointed to protect the kumbha during the battle. The holy snan (bath) is scheduled at the confluence of this three. It has been believed that if one can take a bath at the punya tithi, he will not have to take a rebirth as human and can avail mukti

There is a misconception that Kumbha Mela is held alternatively in these four places which is not true. Each place has its own Purna and Ardha Kumbh Mela.

Haridwar is also known as a place of Dharamshala’s. There are roughly more than 300 Ashrams and Dharamshalas in Haridwar which can accommodate more than 20000 pilgrims during Kumbh, Ardh Kumbha and other important occasion in Haridwar. This Ashrams and Dharamshala’s provide basic facilities and in return they charge very nominal fees. Here are details of some of them:-

Hari Sharanam Satsanga Bhavan, Ananda Van, Haripur Kalan

Sri Bhrama Nivas Ashram, Sapta Sarover Marg

Vivek Niketan, Ananda Van, Sapta Sarover

Sri Sadhu Guru Kabir Gurukul Ashram, Sapta Sarover

Sri Madhwashram, Haripur Kalan, Sapta Sarover

Soham Ashram, Bhupatwal

Yogananda Yogashram, Sapta Sarover, Ananda Van

Umeshwar Dham, Sapta Sarover Marg

Parmarth Ashram, Sukhdevananda Trust, Sapta Sarover

Jai Maa Ashram, Motichoor

Shivananda Ashram, Sapta Sarover Marg

Siddeshwar Mahadev mandir, Jigyasu Ashram, Sapta Sarover Marg

Mataji’s Ashrams in Haridwar

These ashrams are exclusively for womens in Haridwar. Herer are details of some of them:-

Janki Mai Ashram ,Bhima Goda

Radha Mai Ashram ,Bhima Goda

Sita Mai Ashram ,Bhima Goda

Mira Krishna Kunj ,Bhima Goda

Lalita Yoga Ashram ,Bhima Goda

Navajyoti Ashram ,Bhima Goda

Anandamai Maa, Daksha Prajapati, Kankhal

Tripura Yoga Ashram, Kankhal

Basanti Ashram, Kankhal

Santoshi Ashram, Kankhal

Mahila Milan Mandir, Kankhal

Parvati Ashram, Kankhal

Balabharti Ashram, Kankhal

Bhuma Shakti Peeth, Sanyas Marg, Kankhal

Gita Bharti, Kankhal

Santoshi Maa Ashram ,Shravana Nath Nagar

Ashram – Radha Mai Ashram ,Shravana Nath Nagar

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.
Bathing Ghats in Haridwar

Har ki Pauri
This sacred Ghat was constructed by King Vikramaditya in memory of his brother Bhartrihari. It is believed that Bhartrihari eventually came to Haridwar to meditate by the banks of holy Ganga. When he died, his brother constructed a Ghat in his name which later came to be known as Har-Ki-Pauri. This sacred bathing ghat is also known as Brahmakund Ghat. Vikramaditya remains an enigma; some historians date his reign to 57 BC, others to the sixth century AD. The reflection of golden hues of floral diyas in the river Ganga is the most enchanting sight in the twilight during the Ganga Aarti ceremony.

Subhash Ghat
Subhash Ghat, with a statue of the freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, is adjacent to Har-Ki-Pauri. The Sewa Samiti, another voluntary organization, runs a dispensary here and also assists pilgrims.

Gau Ghat
South of Subhash Ghat is Gau Ghat, where people seek atonement for the sin of cow-slaughter (gau means cow). The unique veneration of cow in India goes back 3500 years. The cow was “Kamadhenu”, the fulfiller of desires, and a cherished item of wealth. Death ceremonies were completed with the pious act of donating a cow. The sin of killing a cow is “equal to the sin of killing a Brahmin”.

Parwah Ghat
Immediately south of the main Ganga temple is the Asthi Prawah Ghat, where the ashes of the dead are immersed in the Ganga, in the belief that as with the 60,000 sons of Sanger, the cooling waters of the river will bestow salvation upon the departed soul.

The next Kumbh Mela is going to take place at Haridwar in 2010 from 1st January – 30 April. The dates for holy bath’s of the 2010 Kumbh Mela are as under-

• 1. 14 January 2010 (thursday) – Makar Sankranti Snan – First Snan (bath)
• 2. 15 January 2010 (friday) – Mauni Amavasya and Surya Grahan ( Sola Eclipse) – Second Snan
• 3. 20 January 2010 (Wed) – Basant Panchmi Snan – Third snan
• 4. 30 January 2010 (saturday) – Magh Purnima Snan – Fourth Snan
• 5. 12 February 2010 (friday) – Maha Shivratri – Pratham Shahi Snan – First Royal Bath
• 6. 15 March 2010 (monday)- Somvati Amavasya – Dvitya Shahi snan – Second Royal Bath.
• 7. 24 March 2010 (Wednesday)- Ram Navmi – Fifth Snan
• 8. 30 March 2010 (Tuesday) – Chaitra purnima snan
• 9. 14 April 2010 (wednesday) – Baisakhi – Pramukh Shahi Sanan.
• 10. 28 April 2010 (wednesday) – Shakh Purnima – snan

Kumbh Mela is attended by millions of people on a single day especially on the dates of holy bath or shahi snan. The major event of the festival being a ritual bath or shahi snan at the banks of the rivers in each town. Other activities include religious discussions, devotional singing, mass feeding of holy men and women and the poor, and religious assemblies where doctrines are debated and standardized.

Kumbh Mela (especially the Maha Kumbh Mela) is the most sacred of all the pilgrimages. Thousands of holy men and women (monks, saints and sadhus) attend, and the auspiciousness of the festival is in part attributable to this. The sadhus are seen clad in saffron sheets with plenty of ashes and powder dabbed on their skin per the requirements of ancient traditions. Some called nanga sanyasis may often be seen without any clothes even in severe winter, generally considered to live an extreme lifestyle. After visiting the Kumbh Mela of 1895, Mark Twain wrote:

“ It is wonderful, the power of a faith like that, that can make multitudes upon multitudes of the old and weak and the young and frail enter without hesitation or complaint upon such incredible journeys and endure the resultant miseries without repining. It is done in love, or it is done in fear; I do not know which it is. No matter what the impulse is, the act born of it is beyond imagination, marvelous to our kind of people, the cold whites.

• Haridwar (the gateway to God) will host the Purna Kumbha mela in the year 2010 (March-April)
• The Purna Kumbha Mela will again be held at Allahabad (Prayag) in the year 2013 (January 27 to February 25)
• Nasik will host the Ardha Kumbha Mela in 2015 (August 15 to September 13)
• Ujjan Ardha Kumbh Mela 2016 (April 22 to May 21)