The Kumbh is an extremely sacred and popular Hindu festival in India which attracts people from all parts of the country. Steeped in culture and tradition, the Hindu religion has festivals for almost every occasion. In fact, these festivals are a perfect instance of unity among diversity. The festivals form an integral constituent of our art, music and architecture. It casts an immense impact on our literature as well.
It is a common feature in India that the places of pilgrimage are usually located in the mountains or dense forested areas or even, on the banks of rivers. The word ‘Kumbh’ literally means ‘Pitcher’ and ‘Ardh Kumbh’ means ‘Half Pitcher’.Both are human fairs in which, millions of people participate from all over the world. People attend this fair on the banks of the holy rivers; Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati in Allahabad. The confluence these 3 rivers at Prayag is considered holy by the Hindus.
Ardh Kumbh and Kumbh has a mythological background to its credit. People take a holy bathe in these rivers. They believe that by doing this, they will be purged out from their sins. This is the reason why people come to the Ardh Kumbh even when transportation is a major problem and the temperatures are unbearably cold. Maha Kumbh, also known as Poorna Kumbh, is held after every 12 years at Haridwar, Prayag, Ujjain and Nashik. It is interesting to note that the venue of the Ardh Kumbh is based on the planetary position of the Sun, the moon and Jupiter.
It is interesting to note that if the Kumbh at Allahabad happens to be on a Monday, then it is called ‘Somvati Amavasya’. In this case, the spiritual advantage of the Kumbh increases immensely. According to the legend in the Puranas, a war broke out between the Gods and the Demons in order to seize the pot which contained the holy ‘amrit’ or nectar. However, the Demons managed to run away with the ‘amrit’. During their flight, few drops of the holy nectar fell on 4 places of the earth. These 4 places eventually became the venues of the Mela.
When the fair is held at Nasik and Ujjain, it is known as ‘Simhastha Kumbh’. This is due to the location of the planet Jupiter in the ‘Simha’ (Leo) constellation. At Prayag, it is known as ‘Vrishastha’ (i.e. when Jupiter is in Taurus). When Jupiter is in Aquarius, it is known as ‘Kumbhastha’ and the venue is at Haridwar.During the Ardh Kumbh, the ‘sadhus’ (Indian sages) go to Ujjain along with their ‘Akharas’. The interval between the ‘Simhastha Kumbh’ at Nasik and Ujjain is usually one year.
The Ardha Kumbh at Haridwar is attended only by the people who lead a domestic life (‘Grihasthas’) and is held after a period of 6 years.The historical background states that King Harshavardhana (who ruled in India in the 7th century) relinquished all his property after every 6 years at Prayag. This was certainly one of the reasons why the Ardh Kumbh became so popular.
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