The Mahakumbh is one of the world's most solemn and largest religious meetings, held with great dedication and spiritual passion. This once-in-twelve-year event is more than just a festival; it is a convergence of culture, faith, and spirituality that attracts millions of followers from all over the world.
During the Kumbh Mela, several ceremonies take place, including the traditional procession of Akharas known as ‘Peshwai’ on elephant backs, horses, and chariots, the shining swords and rituals of Naga Sadhus during ‘Shahi Snaan’, and many other cultural activities that attract millions of pilgrims to the event.
Origin of Kumbh Mela from the scriptures:
The story of Mahakumbh begins with the Devas (gods) and Asuras (demons) churning the ocean (Samudra Manthan) in search of the nectar of immortality (Amrit). The mythical significance of Kumbh is centered on the account of the Samudra Manthan, which was performed by the gods and demons to gain the priceless Ratnas, or jewels, and amrita, or nectar of immortality. The mountain Mandrachala served as a churning stick, with Nagraja Vasuki acting as the rope. Lord Vishnu himself took the form of Kasava, or tortoise, and gave the foundation for the mountain Mandrachala, fearing that it would slip and sink into the ocean. The first to emerge from this churning was poison, which was consumed by Lord Shiva, who later became known as the Nilkantha.
After churning the ocean, Dhanvantri emerged carrying a pitcher of amrita, or the elixir of immortality. To make sure the Asuras don’t get it, Lord Vishnu asked Garuda Dev, to fly away from there with the pot of nectar. When Garuda Dev was carrying the pot, four drops of nectar fell at four places, Haridwar, Ujjain, Nashik, and Prayagraj. Since then, these four places have become great pilgrimage sites.
In other texts, it is said that Indra’s son, Jayant, ran off with the pot. The Sun, his son Shani, Brihaspati (the planet Jupiter), and the Moon went along to protect him and the pot.
As Jayant ran, the amrita spilled at four spots: Haridwar, Prayagraj, Ujjain, and Nashik-Trimbakeshwar. He ran for 12 days, and as one day of the Devas equals one year of humans, Kumbh Mela is celebrated at these locations every 12 years, based on the relative positions of the Sun, the Moon, and Jupiter.
All four places are located on the banks of rivers — Haridwar has the Ganga, Prayagraj is the sangam or meeting point of Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, Ujjain has the Kshipra, and Nashik-Trimbakeshwar the Godavari.
It is believed that taking a dip in these rivers during Kumbh, amid the specific alignment of the heavenly bodies, washes away one’s sins and accrues punya (spiritual merit).
The traditional Kumbh Mela is celebrated every three years, the Ardh (half) Kumbh Mela every six years in Haridwar and Allahabad (Prayag), and the Purna (full) Kumbh Mela every twelve years at four locations: Prayag (Allahabad), Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik, dependent on planetary motions. The Maha Kumbh Mela is held at Prayag after 144 years (after 12 ‘Purna Kumbh Melas’).
If we want to understand the historical reference, then you can find the mention of a big gathering like Kumbh Mela in the 19th century, but even before that, if we look at the basis of this gathering, then there used to be the festival of Magh Snan in which people used to bathe in holy rivers so that they could wash away their sins and attain salvation. In ancient texts like Rigveda, stories of Samudra Manthan and Amrit have been given, which help us to understand the basic basis of this festival. Then if we move ahead, in the time of the Gupta period and Mauryan period also, there were many such festivals.
We find the mention of Kumbh Mela. With time, Kumbh Mela became a symbol of unity and spiritual knowledge. At this conference, many saints, ascetics, and devotees started to meet. Kumbh Mela is held at four holy places. The first place is Prayagraj. Prayagraj is known for Triveni Sangam, where three holy rivers meet – Ganga, Yamun, and the hidden Saraswati River. The second place where Kumbh is held is Haridwar. Here, the holy river Ganga comes down from the mountains. Where people take a bath in the Ganga to purify their mind and soul.
Apart from the Ganga River, Haridwar is also known for its peace and spiritual energy. Then comes the third place which is Nashik. Nashik is located on the banks of the Godavari River. There are many religious beliefs and stories from the Puranas here too. The fourth Kumbh place is Ujjain. Ujjain is a city located on the banks of the Shipra River which has a religious and spiritual history. Bathing here also becomes a part of the spiritual journey of the people. It is decided at which of these four places the Kumbh Mela will be held, based on the astronomically aligned places.
Astrological alignments for the occurrence of Kumbh Mela:
As it occurs in 12 years, the time depends on the position of satellite bodies, especially Jupiter. Jupiter takes about 12 years to complete one orbit around the Sun and the places are decided according to those 12 years. Kumbh Mela is held at every place once in 12 years. Kumbh Mela is held when Jupiter enters a specific zodiac sign and any kind of religious work is considered auspicious during this time.
When Jupiter is in Aquarius or Kumbh Rashi, and the Sun and Moon in Aries and Sagittarius respectively, Kumbh is held at Haridwar.
When Jupiter is in Tauras, and the Sun and Moon are in Capricorn or Makar (thus, Makar Sankranti is also in this period) the Kumbh is held at Prayag.
When Jupiter is in Leo or Simha, and the Sun and Moon are in Cancer, the Kumbh is held at Nashik and Trimbakeshwar, which is why they are also called the Simhastha Kumbh.
Significance and employment generation due to Kumbh Mela:
Saints and sages from the monasteries and religious personalities come, there are also events of Katha and Kirtan, many people from different states come who showcase different cultures here, you will also get to see the performance of their folk songs, dances and arts in this Kumbh Mela.
UNESCO has recognized the Kumbh Mela as the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and this shows the cultural significance of Kumbh Mela for India.
The significance of Kumbh Mela is not limited only to the religious perspective, if we look at it from the economic perspective, during the Kumbh Mela, lakhs of people travel from one place to another, which gives a boost to the travel industry and provides huge support to the economy. If we try to understand it in terms of data, the government spent Rs 4200 crore to organize the Kumbh Mela 2019, but the economic value generated in this Kumbh Mela was Rs 1,20,000 crore, and at the same time, 6 lakh people got jobs in a single Kumbh Mela. If we talk only about the hospitality industry, then 1 lakh jobs were generated in these.
This year, the government spent around Rs 7000 crore and the economic value predicted to be generated is around Rs 2,00,000 crore.
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