KUMBH MELA

About:

• According to UNESCO, Kumbh Mela (the festival of the sacred Pitcher) is the largest peaceful congregation of pilgrims on earth attended by millions of people. The congregation includes ascetics, saints, sadhus, aspirants-kalpavasis and visitors.
  
  
• During it, participants bathe or take a dip in a sacred river as they believe that by doing this one gets freed from sins and thus liberating her/him from the cycle of birth and death.
  
  
• The festival is held at Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik every four years by rotation. As it is held in four different cities in India, it involves different social and cultural activities, making this a culturally diverse festival.
  
  
• At any given place, the Kumbh Mela is held once in 12 years. There is a difference of around 3 years between the Kumbh Melas at Haridwar and Nashik; the fairs at Nashik and Ujjain are celebrated in the same year or one year apart.
  
  
• At Haridwar and Allahabad, an Ardha ("Half") Kumbh Mela is held every sixth year.