Kumbh Mela - World's Largest Religious Gathering

Kumbh Mela or Kumbha Mela is a major pilgrimage and festival in Hinduism. Kumbh means pot or pitcher. Mela means festival or fair. Hence, the Kumbh Mela means festival of the pot. It specifically relates to the pot of nectar in Hindu mythology. Legend has it that the gods once lost their strength. In order to regain it, they agreed with the demons to churn the primordial ocean of milk for Amrit (the nectar of immortality). This was to be shared equally between them. However, a fight broke out, which went on for 12 human years. During the battle, the celestial bird, Garuda, flew away with the Kumbh that held the nectar. Drops of nectar is believed to have fallen in the places that the Kumbh Mela is now held -- Prayag (Allahabad), Haridwar, Nashik, and Ujjain.

The Mela takes place on a rotational basis in four of the holiest 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 the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers in Allahabad/Prayag (Uttar Pradesh). The confluence of these rivers is referred to as the Sangam. The sadhus and other holy men are an integral part of the Mela. Pilgrims who attend it come to see and listen to these men, in order to gain spiritual enlightenment. Space Imaging’s Ikonos satellite has taken a detailed color photograph of the largest human gathering in the history of the world, the Maha Kumbh Mela.  The spectacular image is the first high-resolution satellite image ever taken of such an event. The image shows the sacred site at the confluence of the Ganges, The Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers where millions of Hindu worshippers bathe to wash away their sins and hasten the Hindu people’s progress toward nirvana.  The festival is expected to attract 70 million people.

There are various types of sadhus:

•Nagas -- naked sadhus who smear their bodies with ash and have long matted hair. 

•Urdhwavahurs -- who have emaciated bodies from rigid spiritual practices.

•Parivajakas -- who have taken a vow of silence.

•Shirshasinse -- who remain standing, sleep with their heads resting on a vertical pole and meditate standing on their heads.

•Kalpvasis -- who remain by the river banks and devote their time to meditating, performing rituals, and bathing numerous times a day.

From a tourist perspective, the Kumbh Mela is an unforgettable -- and daunting -- experience! The sheer number of people there can be off-putting. However, dedicated arrangements are made, especially for foreigners. Special tourist camps are set up, providing luxury tents with attached bathrooms, guides, and assistance for excursions. Tight security is also in place.

To see the biggest spectacle of sadhus, make sure you're there for a Shahi Snan (Royal Bath), which happens on certain auspicious days. There are usually a handful of these days during each Kumbh Mela. The dates are announced in advance.  Another major event is the arrival of the various sects of sadhus, in procession with much fanfare, at the start of the Kumbh Mela.