The Kumbh Mela can easily be considered as the largest pilgrimage and even the largest human gathering in the entire world. A grand and joyous fair which is far beyond the scale of any other, the Kumbh Mela bears a great deal of significance in the Hindu religion.
The earliest account of it’s history is mentioned in the legend of Samudra manthan (Churning of the ocean) in the ancient Hindu texts known as Puranas. In this legend, it is said that gods and demons fought over a pot or kumbha which was filled with the nectar of immortality. It was taken by the gods and the mythological creature Garuda carried it to heaven. On the way, Garuda spilled its drops at four different places : Haridwar, Prayagraj, Ujjain and Nashik. The Kumbh Mela is celebrated four times at these four places over the course of twelve years.
It has historically been a fair which is a combination of a trade meet and pilgrimage with multiple multiple traders and akharas or sects of saints participating in the mela. All four of the fairs are held at river banks and it is believed that taking a dip in the river water during this fair cleanses the body, mind and soul and even absolves the person taking the dip of any sins he/she has committed in the past.
The Ardh Kumbh Mela celebrated at Prayagraj in January to February 2019 was a month long carnival which witnessed the participation of more than 120 million traders, saints, pilgrims and tourists. Held at the banks of the sangam (the meeting point between the rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati) , it is widely believed to be the biggest and most well organised Kumbh Mela held yet.
It took place in the specially created Kumbh Nagri which had its own bridges, police force, hospitals and other emergency as well as accommodation services. The presence and growth of the Kumbh Mela over the course of so many years stands as a testament to the fact that not only is it an extremely important part of the Hindu religion but also has a special place in the lives of all Indians.
