Kumbh Mela - Religion, Spirituality, Tourism and Revenue!

Kumh Mela  (adventures-india.com)

The other day I was talking to a group of youngsters (college students), the conversation turned to the Kumbh Mela, in due course. I asked them about the mass human gathering  that brings people together from all religions, caste and creed. It is important not only from the spiritual or religious point of view but also in terms of tourism and revenue that it brings to the home state. The reason for me asking the question was the second one of course! I had been following a parlicular TV channel that shows a 30 minutes programme on the Maha Kumbh at Allahabad this year. I watched a couple of episodes and it got me interested and curious to know more about it that I don't miss to catch the early morning segment. I am amazed at the lives and lifestyles of the sadhus particularly the Naga Sadhus. With this in the background I posed the question to the youngsters. I was surprised to know that not many knew what I was talking about. Yes of course they knew the Kumbh Mela as portrayed in the Hindi movies, it was a massive gathering of people where a family member would get lost in the crowd. The youngsters didn't really know anything much beyond. I am sure they learnt in their schools but somehow it isn't retained, the newspapers have write ups almost everyday and theres so much  information about the festival on the internet,  particularly the photographs, almost all top photo journalists from across the globe are there to cover the event. The pictures are a treasure in itself. The youngsters inspire me to write this post. This year the Maha Kumbh at Prayag, Allahabad is from 14th January to 10th March 2013 (Makar Sankranti to Shiv Ratri). The lives of the sadhus fascinate me and arouse curiosity to take a peek. Finally the post comes out of the draft stage where it remained for almost a fortnight.

Kumbh means pitcher or pot. Mela in hindi is festival or fair. So, the Kumbh Mela is the festival of the pot. It specifically relates to the pot of nectar in Hindu mythology.Legend has it that the gods once lost their strength. In order to regain it, they agreed with the demons to churn the primordial ocean of milk for 'Amrit' (the nectar of immortality). This was to be shared equally between them. However, a fight broke out, which went on for 12 human years. During the battle, the celestial bird, Garuda, flew away with the Kumbh that held the nectar. Drops of nectar are believed to have fallen in the places that the Kumbh Mela is now held Prayag (Allahabad), Haridwar, Nashik, and Ujjain. Theres Maha Kumbh once in 12 years and the Ardh Kumb is held once in 6 years.

The various saint groups that visit the Kumbh are:
The Naga Sadhus, are identified by their ash smeared naked bodies and hair in deadlocks.
Urdhwavahurs, believe in putting the body through severe austerities.
Parivajakas, have taken a vow of silence and go about tinkling little bells to get people out of their way.
Shirshasins stand all 24 hours and meditate for hours standing on their heads.

Kalpvasis are people who spend the entire month of Kumbh on the banks of Ganges, meditating and  performing other religious rituals. They are supposed to have only one meal during the day. Even families perform this.

To know more about the mela you can follow the link. This is the official website of the Allahabad Kumbh Mela: http://kumbhmelaallahabad.gov.in/english/index.html

Some facts that I heard about the lives of the Naga Sadhus, 

• They were created as the Hindu army by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century BC.
• They are the devotees of Lord Shiva (Shree Digambars and Digambars)
• Most of them live in the caves in the Himalayas or the Akharas across different parts of the country.
• Most of the Akharas are owned by the Digambars but there are also Akharas of the Sikhs, Budhist monks and Sufi saints.
• The Sadhus generally live in the Akharas and come to civilization only for the Kumbh melas that are held alternatively at Allahabad, Haridwar, Nasik and Ujjain
• People who renounce the world and join the Akhara get their degree or certificate of being a Naga Sadhu after a rigorous penance of at least 8- 10 years. Religious duties as well as yoga and martial arts, weapons are a part of the training.
• Among the sadhus are people who were once in the civil services, defence, artists, educationists, people who worked in the government or the private sector.
• To be inducted into the Akhara, the individual needs to give up all worldly pleasures, relations, kinship etc.
• They adorn ash all over bodies, the ash from the holy fire that they light They don't shave and wear their hear in deadlocks.
• In the Hindu culture a married woman does 'solah sringar' ( 16 adornments) but a Naga Sadhu does 'Satrah Sringar' (17 adornments) during the Kumbh Mela festivities.
• The Sadhus get to do the Shahi snaan (The Royal dip), the first bath of the day, it may begin as early as 3 am.
• They carry out impressive processions during the Kumbh  Mela, showcasing their weapons as well.

This once is 12 years event is certainly an event to behold not only from the religious or spiritual point of view but also from the revenue that it is likely to generate.
According to the Business Standard, the ongoing Maha Kumbh in Allahabad is projected to generate about Rs 12,000 crore of revenues and create over 6 lakh job opportunities. Airlines, hotels and tour operators are likely to witness a boom period in their economic activities due to the mela and contribute Rs 12,000 crore revenues to the state coffers in Uttar Pradesh. The report has projected that new employment opportunities would be created in airlines, airports, hotels, tour operators,infrasturctual development, medical and  Eco-tourism. The unorganised sectors would also gain.

Tourist arrival to the extent of 250 million, compared to 30 million in 2001, is expected to congregate for the holy dip. Besides, about a million foreign tourists are expected to visit India for site seeing, religious and Eco-tourism.

Kumbh Mela is one of the largest human congregations on earth, and a visit to the Kumbh is in the bucket list for sure! 

PS

I'll keep with my promise of writing about Abhilash Tomy in my posts till he is back from his historic voyage.

(Abhilash Tomy is attempting to be the first Indian on a solo non stop unassisted circumnavigation of the globe)

Kumbh Mela is a festival of the pitcher where the devotees take a dip in the Holy waters of the river Ganges and the Maha Kumb is considered to be very auspicious, here's an Aquarian  who is set out to be the first Indian to circumnavigate the world... crossing all its Oceans. 

He has his birthday this month (February), in fact in the coming week, this is what the astrologists say about the Zodiac sign, Aquarius is symbolized by the Water Bearer. In much the same way that the Water Bearer brings that precious liquid as a gift, Aquarians shower the world with their thoughts and new ideas. Luckily for Aquarians (and the rest of us), they are at a near-genius level, so their minds churn out some amazing things. Their thought process is also inventive and original. While Aquarians are happy to bestow these ideas as a gift with no strings attached, they are much happier when the rest of the world agrees with them. 

Here too, are a lot of people in 'agreement' can see that from his fan following.

 To know more about Lt. Cdr Tomy and his boat the Mhadei, follow the link below.

Check: www.sagarparikrama2.blogspot.com

            www.Facebook.com/www.mhadei.co.in

Pictures have been taken from google, if anyone has a problem with their use, they'd be promptly removed.

The festival of Makar Sankranti

Hello everyone... Its been a while since I have written something. I received a message from Swapnali, an enthusiastic girl, who follows my blog saying that I hadn't written anything  of late and she suggested that I should write something on Makar Sankranti. I promised her that I'd surely have this topic for my next post and here it is.....

The sun, symbolizing wisdom, divine knowledge and spiritual light, which receded from you when you reveled in the darkness of ignorance, delusion and sensuality, now joyously turns on its northward course and moves towards you to shed its light and warmth in greater abundance, and to infuse into you more life and energy. - Author Unknown

  Makar Sankranti is one of the most auspicious day for the Hindus, It is celebrated in almost all parts of the country in many forms, with great devotion, fervor and gaiety. It is the day when the Sun begins its ascend and entry into the Northern Hemisphere. Sun in the Hindu religion is notably mentioned as the visible form of God that one can see every day who symbolizes the one, non-dual, glorious divinity blessing one and  all. The Gayatri Mantra, is directed to Sun God to bless the individuals with intelligence and wisdom. Sun not only represents God but also stands for an embodiment of knowledge and wisdom.

Astrologists consider it to be having a great significance in astrology as it involves the transition of sun from one zodiac sign to the other, in fact sankranti happens every month. 

This year, Maha Kumbh mela at Sangam (meeting place of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati) in Allahabad begins on this day. Where bathing for purification from sin is considered especially auspicious and attracts millions of devotees from around the world.

The religious significance are many and can be read in our various scriptures, I am not covering those aspects here.  

The festival of Makar Sankranti is highly regarded by the Hindus from North to down South. The day is known by various names and a variety of traditions are witnessed as one explores the festival in different states.It is a major harvest festival celebrated in various parts of India. According to the lunar calendar, when the sun moves from the Tropic of Capricorn to the Tropic of Cancer or from Dakshinayana to Uttarayana, in the month of Pausha in mid-January, it commemorates the beginning of the harvest season and cessation of the northeast monsoon in South India. The movement of the Sun from one zodiac sign into another is called Sankranti and as the Sun moves into the Capricorn zodiac known as Makar in Hindi, this occasion is named as Makar Sankranti in the Indian context. It is one of the few Hindu Indian festivals which are celebrated on a fixed date i.e. 14 January every year or may be sometimes on 15 January, if it happens to be a leap year. After this day the days start becoming longer and warmer in India, hence is also a celebration among the folks.

 In Uttar Pradesh, Sankrant is called ‘Khichdi’. Taking a dip in the holy rivers on this day is regarded as most auspicious. A big one-month long ‘Magha-Mela’ fair begins at Prayag (Allahabad) on this day. Apart from Triveni (where the three rivers Ganga, Jamuna and Saraswati meet), ritual bathing also takes place at many places like Haridvar and Garh Mukteshwar in Uttar Pradesh, and Patna in Bihar. 

In Punjab where December and January are the coldest months of the year, huge bonfires are lit on the eve of Sankrant  which is celebrated as Lohri. Sweets particularly revdi, peanuts, sugarcane and rice are offered in the bonfires, around which people, family and friends gather. Dancing follows the puja. The following day, which is Sankrant, is celebrated as Maghi. 

In Maharashtra on the Sankranti day people exchange  tilguds made from til (sesame seeds) and sugar and til-laddus made from til and jaggery. Til-polis are offered for lunch. While exchanging tilguls as tokens of goodwill people greet each other saying – ‘til-gul ghya, goud goud bola’ meaning ‘accept these tilguls and speak sweet words’. The under-lying thought in the exchange of tilguls is to forget the past ill-feelings and hostilities and resolve to speak sweetly and remain friends. This is a special day for the women in Maharashtra when married women are invited for a get-together called ‘Haldi-Kumkum’ and given gifts of any utensil, which the woman of the house purchases on that day.

 In Gujarat Sankrant is observed  in the same manner as in Maharashtra but with a difference that in Gujarat there is a custom of giving gifts to relatives. Kite flying has been associated with this festival in a big way. It has become an internationally well-known event now. On this day colourful kites make Gujrat sky a sight to behold!

In Tamil Nadu, Sankrant is known by the name of ‘Pongal’, which takes its name from the surging of rice boiled in a pot of milk, and this festival has more significance than even Diwali. It is very popular particularly amongst farmers. Rice and pulses cooked together in ghee and milk is offered to the family deity after the ritual worship. In essence in the South this Sankrant is a ‘Puja’ (worship) for the Sun God.

In Andhra Pradesh, it is celebrated as a three-day harvest festival Pongal.  The Telugus like to call it 'Pedda Panduga' meaning big festival. The whole event lasts for four days, the first day Bhogi, the second day Sankranti, the third day Kanuma and the fourth day, Mukkanuma.

In Kerala, also among a lot of Hindus from the Southern states, the 40 days Anushthana by the devotees of Ayyappa ends on this day in Sabarimala with a big  celebration in the form of makaravilakku festival.

In  Madhya Pradesh this festival is known by the name ‘Sakarat’ and is celebrated with great pomp and merriment. Food forms an integral part of the celebrations. 

Sankranti - black!

In Odisha the tribals  start their new year from the day of Sankrant by lighting bonfires, dancing and ofcourse great food. In Assam, the festival is celebrated as Bhogali Bihu. In the coastal regions, it is a harvest festival dedicated to Lord Indra, the supreme ruler of the Gods. 

In Bengal a big Mela is held at Ganga Sagar the continental shelf of Bay of Bengal,south of Kolkata. This island is a famous Hindu pilgrimage place. Every year on the day of Makar Sankranti  thousands of Hindus gather to take a holy dip at the confluence of river Ganges and Bay of Bengal and offer puja in the Kapil Muni Temple. This mela is attended by a large number of pilgrims from all over the country.

For the ladies in Mumbai, it’s a day to dress in black sarees, have some celebrations in office. Offer Til ladoos, attend haldi kumkum in office as well as at their friend's places in the evenings. Yes, for me I got to see some amazing black sarees and a feeling of great festivity among the lovely ladies. 

PS

I'll keep with my promise of writing about Abhilash Tomy in my posts till he is back from his historic voyage.

(Abhilash Tomy is attempting to be the first Indian on a solo non stop unassisted circumnavigation of the globe)

This day of Makar Sankranti, is celebrated all over India with pomp and gaiety. Taking a holy dip in the rivers or having an early morning bath at home is a part of the ritual, Tomy mentions that he has a limited supply of the potable water and has to be judicious about its use. Sun is certainly the power that he looks for everyday, as he says that its overcast most of the time. Yes he does meditate, Shambhavi Kriya is a part of his daily meditation. I am sure all that has been a part of his preparation for the big job that he has at his hands. I must say, we salute this rock solid guy for his endurance and perseverance.  

 To know more about Lt. Cdr Tomy and his boat the Mhadei, follow the link below.

Check: www.sagarparikrama2.blogspot.com

            www.Facebook.com/www.mhadei.co.in