PRAYAGRAJ KUMBH

About:

• What is it?
  • Kumbh Mela is the largest peaceful congregation of pilgrims which 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.
    
    
  
  
  
• When held?
  • Prayagraj Kumbh Mela is held at every 6 years and Maha Kumbh at every 12 years.
    
    
  • The Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj is held in the month of Magh of Hindu calendar when Jupiter is in Aries and Sun and Moon are in Capricorn or Jupiter is in Taurus and Sun in Capricorn.
    
    
  
  
  
• Location:
  • The festival is held at Prayagraj, 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 Prayagraj, an Ardha ("Half") Kumbh Mela is held every sixth year.
    
    
  
  
  
• Nomenclature: Earlier they were known as Ardh Kumbh and Kumbh. But this year the government has announced the Ardh Kumbh will be known as Kumbh and Kumbh as Maha Kumbh.
  
  
• Recognition:
  • In 2017, the UNESCO inscribed Kumbh Mela on the list of Intangible Cultural heritage for humanity.
    
    
  • 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.