maha kumbh mela.
every 12 years, the worlds largest gathering takes place in prayagraj, india.
however this year, it was special…
every 144 years, the most mega-super-awesome-maha-kumbh-mela takes place when jupiter aligns with the sun and moon making it one of the most important pilgrimages in hinduism.
here are some pics…
the gathering
it is estimated that up to 400 million people will gather over a 45 day period to bath at the confluence of three rivers (triveni sangam) – the ganges, the yamuna and the mythical saraswati.
stretching 12 km long and covering an area of approximately 40 sq km, the festival is so large it can be seen from outer space.
on the busiest and holiest day of the festival, it took hours to walk through the streets of prayagraj and across the festival site.
it’s hard to describe or imagine the scale of it.
but if kumbh mela was a country, it would be the 3rd biggest in the world in terms of population.
the bath (shahi/amrit snan)
it is believed that poison chips away slowly at your life in many ways.
and that by bathing in these waters, a person can cleanse these sins and purify their soul.
according to samudra manthan, gods and demons churned the ocean of milk to produce the nectar of immortality. in the ensuing struggle, it is here that a few drops fell which made these waters so sacred.
the most auspicious dates are known as shahi/amrit snan and sees the most people congregate along these rivers.
the festival
along the rivers, the festival stretches out across fairgrounds and campsites creating a city within a city.
fairgrounds, workshops, food stalls, shops, rest areas, open air dentists and even tattoo artists(!?!) can be found around the site…
food is provided by various campsites (shivirs) to all visitors – reflecting the spirit of selfless service (seva).
and holy men (naga sadhus) play an important part in kumbh mela. they lead their devotees along processions, prayers and bathing.
i first heard about kumbh mela from some colleagues 12 years ago and ever since, i’ve been planning to attend this one. i was glad i could finally make it. the crush of people was all a bit intense and is not for the faint-hearted, but it was definitely worth it and a truly unique experience. unlike anything anywhere on earth.
if you missed this years, don’t worry you can always catch the next big one in the year 2169.
or the slightly less auspicious one in 2037 i guess…
