The largest public religious gathering in the world began on January 13 and will last until February 26 to celebrate the culture and roots of the Asian country
At Kumbh Mela, devotees immerse themselves in sacred rivers for purification.
The festival Maha Kumbh Mela It promises to bring together in the next 44 days more than 400 million people who seek cleansing from sins and spiritual purification in waters sacred to Hinduism. The pilgrimage is celebrated four times over the course of 12 years in the Indian cities of Haridwar, Ujjain, Nashik and Prayagraj, the latter being the best known.
The choice of this location is not random, since precisely around these cities are the sacred rivers that serve as scenes for this religious celebration. From the Ganges to the Shipra, the Godavari and the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna and the mythical Sarasvati.
The timing of the Kumbh Mela is dictated by astrology and depends on the positions of the Sun, Moon and Jupiter. Ascetics, such as Sadhus and Naga Sadhus, hermits who come out of seclusion during the festival, and daily practitioners of the Hindu religion, participate in this ceremony.
During the 44 days of this sacred pilgrimage, participants seek purification from sins, guidance, spiritual liberation and inner peace. The sacred bath at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and Serasvati rivers becomes the most important moment.
The celebration dates back thousands of years and is deeply linked to Hindu mythology. It is believed that, during those years, there was a battle between gods and demons for the nectar of immortality, during which one of the gods fled with the precious liquid and spilled its drops in the cities that are currently the epicenter of the celebration.
At first the pilgrimages were smaller and then with the rise of Hinduism and the Mauryan and Gupta periods their status rose. Over the years and, due to its importance for the Indians, the different royal dynasties that ruled the country respected this sacred tradition. After the independence of India from the British Empire, this ancient celebration acquired greater connotation and became a symbol of national unity and the celebration of the country’s culture.
The Kumbh Mela was recognized in 2017 by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Music, dance and crafts also become protagonists of the pilgrimage. A celebration to which international pilgrims also join. The Mela, its history, traditions and practices are a reminder of the union of humanity in search of spirituality and inner peace, regardless of cultural barriers.
