With the Dussehra-Diwali festivities behind, health authorities and administrators are now bracing themselves for the big challenge of holding a Kumbh Mela in the congested city of Haridwar, which is expected to draw millions of people even as India's Covid-19 counts have started rising days after Diwali. Ujjain will host Kumbh Mela, Haridwar will host at Ardh Kumbh and Allahabad will be the venue for Ardh Kumbh in 2019. This is the first time in 80 years that such a phenomenon has happened. The number of new cases are on a rise since the last four days after dipping below 30,000 on November 17. Government sources said that the Kumbh would be held as usual between January and April, but they are silent on the special arrangements that need to … There are 13 types of sadhus and akharas (organizations/groups they belong to), divided according to their beliefs and ideologies. Kumbh 2021: The big Covid-19 challenge after Diwali. Tight security is also in place. What Rituals are Performed at the Kumbh Mela? See some of the weird and wonderful sights of the Kumbh Mela in this photo gallery. The largest religious gathering in the world, the Kumbh Mela brings Hindu holy men together to discuss their faith and disseminate information about their religion. Special tourist camps are set up, providing luxury tents with attached bathrooms, guides, and assistance for excursions. The death toll stands at 132,726 out of which 564 were added in the past 24 hours. The Kumbh Mela in India is as mesmerizing as it is spiritual. In particular, the bathing ghats (steps leading down to the river) will be divided into sectors and color-coded zones. The last Ardh Kumbh Mela was held in the year 2019 at Prayagraj and the next one is scheduled in the year 2025. We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve user experience. The dates for a pilgrimage to the Kumbh Mela are determined according to the Vikram Samvat calendar. Earlier this month, Uttarakhand government approved proposals worth nearly Rs 300 crore for the 2021 Kumbh at Haridwar including construction of a 150-bed hospital and a 1,000-bed Covid care centre. 0 1,009 6 minutes read. Pilgrims who want to take a holy dip in the river on any of the four important Shahi Snan dates (March 11, April 12, April 14 and April 27) will have to make an online booking in advance and get an e-pass for entry into the area. They then walk around listening to discourses from the various sadhus. From a tourist perspective, the Kumbh Mela is an unforgettable -- and daunting -- experience! Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list. It's uncertain when this ban will be lifted. The 2021 Kumbh Mela is scheduled to commence on January 14 in Haridwar. In fact the visitors will start pouring in from January 14 (Makar Sankranti). In addition, in Allahabad, every year the Maagh Mela is celebrated in the month of Maagh (as per Hindu calendar during mid January to February) at the Sangam. Kumbh Mela or Kumbha Mela is a major pilgrimage and festival in Hinduism. The dates are announced in advance. The Mela takes place on a rotational basis in four of the most holy Hindu places in India -- on the banks of the Godavari river in Nashik (Maharashtra), the Shipra river in Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh), the Ganges river in Haridwar (Uttarakhand), and confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers in Allahabad/Prayag (Uttar Pradesh). It is believed that during Kumbh mela if one takes a dip in holy river then their … This ancient northern Indian festival is a meeting of mystical minds. However, there will be less sadhus present. It always occurs in Allahabad, as the confluence of the rivers there is considered to be particularly holy. Allahabad will host 2019 … Kumbh means pot or pitcher. 2020 has just begun with the great vibes of the magnificent Kumbh Mela 2021 as its preparations are just around the corner. The Maha Kumbh Mela is considered to be the most auspicious mela. The sheer number of people there can be off-putting. The pilgrims who attend the mela come to see and listen to these men, in order to gain spiritual enlightenment. Sharell Cook lives in Mumbai full-time and has been writing about India travel for TripSavvy since 2008. When is the Next Kumbh Mela? The confluence of these rivers is referred to as the Sangam. It's being held there after 11 years, not the usual 12, due to specific auspicious dates. Your Guide to India's Festivals and Holidays, Kuni Takahashi / Contributor/Getty Images. This includes personalising content and advertising. The sadhus arrive at the mela together in a Peshwari procession of each akhara. Mela means festival or fair. It's attended by millions of people each day. To see the biggest spectacle of sadhus, make sure you're there for a Shahi Snan (Royal Bath), which happens on certain auspicious days. The s… January 11, 2020. The moment is magical, and everyone is absorbed in it. The Kumbh Mela is held at one of the four holy pilgrimage destinations, Haridwar, Nashik, Allahabad and Ujjain, every 12 years by rotation. "I don’t think anyone has factored in the risks associated with the Kumbh. The Ardh Kumb Mela occurs in both Allahabad and Haridwar. The seven-day running average data maintained by the National Institute of Epidemiology too showed the beginning of a rising trend. Upcoming Kumbh Mela. The Largest Religious Gathering in the World. It is celebrated in a cycle of approximately 12 years at four river-bank pilgrimage sites: the Allahabad (Ganges-Yamuna Sarasvati rivers confluence), Haridwar (Ganges), Nashik (Godavari), and Ujjain(Shipra). And finally, the Maha Kumbh Mela which is held once in 144 years after the completion of 12 Purna Kumbh Melas is held in Prayagraj. Although the festival is going ahead as planned, there will be additional measures in place to restrict crowding. “No doubt, its a tremendous challenge. In recognition of the festival's importance, in December 2017, UNESCO included the Kumbh Mela on its Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list. Kumbh Mela is celebrated on the dates when the water of the sacred rivers turns into nectar. The Nagas usually lead, while each group tries to outdo the others with more grandeur and fanfare. Hence, the Kumbh Mela means festival of the pot. In between, in the sixth year, the Ardh Kumbh Mela (half mela) takes place. There are usually a handful of these days during each Kumbh Mela. Hindus consider sadhus to be representatives of the gods, and thus revere them. It specifically relates to the pot of nectar in Hindu mythology. In each location once every 12 years. After bathing, the pilgrims wear fresh clothes and proceed to worship by the river bank. Another major event is the arrival of the various sects of sadhus, in procession with much fanfare, at the start of the Kumbh Mela. Theoretically, it should happen every three years in a different place. Government sources said that the Kumbh would be held as usual between January and April, but they are silent on the special arrangements that need to be put in place in order to organise such a mega-gathering in the middle of the pandemic. The next Kumbh Mela will be held in 2021 in Haridwar, a religious event which will be attended by millions of devotees around the world. This Maagh Mela is referred to as the Ardh Kumbh Mela and Kumbh Mela when it happens in the sixth and twelfth years, respectively. During the battle, the celestial bird, Garuda, flew away with the Kumbh that held the nectar. The festival is marked by a ritual dip in the waters, but it is also a celebration of community commerce with numerous fairs, education, religious discourses by saints, mass feedings of monks or the poor, and entertainment spectacle. In the last 24 hours, as many as 46,232 new cases were registered taking the tally to 90.5 lakh. However, dedicated arrangements are made, especially foreigners. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy. 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The main ritual is the ritual bath. The first Shahi Snan is scheduled on March 21 and the last Shahi Snan would be on April 27. There are justifiable public health worries,” K Srinath Reddy, president, Public Health Foundation of India told DH.