It happens once in 144 years and might give you a relief from the cycle of birth and death. The Maha Kumbh Mela in Jan-Feb 2001 also promises luxuries unheard of in the earlier years.

Thirty-five million people, 144 years, three rivers, six days and four drops of nectar- this about sums up the significance of the Maha Kumbh.

Hailed by the Guinness Book Of World Records as "... the largest number of human beings to ever assemble with a common purpose the Maha Kumbh takes place once in 144 years or after 12 Purna Kumbh Melas. And the millions will include scions of the Dabur family, the Bajajs and people like Madonna and Pierce Brosnan.

Kumbh Mela is the time when mortals gather to bathe in the four drops of nectar that were dropped in the four holy cities of Allahabad, Hardwar, Ujjain and Nasik during the tug of war that ensued during the churning of the seas by gods and demons. Now with spirituality transcending boundaries some Godmen even organise Kumbh Melas in New York.

The millennium's first Maha Kumbh is in Allahabad or Prayag, the holiest of the four cities because it the place of the Sangam, or the confluence of three rivers - the Ganga, the Yamuna and the invisible Saraswati.

The Kumbh fair takes place when Jupiter enters Aquarius and the sun enters Aries. This planetary position is said to medicate the waters of the Ganges and turn it into nectar.

The Origin…
They say that the forces of creation are collected in one vessel (kumbha) and a celebration (mela) ensues. According to myths, the Gods (devas) pleaded with Vishnu, the sustainer of the Universe, to come to their aid. He suggested amrit manthan (the churning of the primeval ocean to extract nectar). Now Gods could not do this on their own so they made a pact with the demons to share the nectar.

They churned the ocean with a paddle made out of Mount Meru and Vishnu offered his own seat, the sheshnaag or the giant sea serpent as the rope. The demons held the head of the serpent and the Gods held the tail. Finally, the ocean yielded her divine gifts in the form of a holy cow, the flying horse, the lyre, Lakshmi (the goddess of fortune) and Vishvakarma (the divine architect and constructor). Last came Dhanavantri, the divine physician, bearing the pitcher of Amrit.

Now since the gods did not want the demons to attain immortality, they grabbed the pot from the divine physician and tried to escape. The demons and the Gods fought over the pot for 12 days (12 years in human time), till Vishnu came to their assistance and severed the head of the serpent that the demons were holding.

The Gods got their pot of nectar, but not before four drops had fallen on earth. The four drops fell at Allahabad, Hardwar, Ujjain and Nasik. The Purna Kumbh Mela is held only at Allahabad and Hardwar, once every 12 years. The Kumbh Mela however is an annual event held in Ujjain in the months of October-November and in Nasik in the months of July-August.

And Men Of God
The most conspicuous presence at the Kumbh is that of Naga Sadhus. With their bodies smeared in ash and their long matted hair they are an exotic sight to even an average Indian. Constant exposure to the elements and rigorous self-control makes them impervious to the extremes of hot and cold.

Then there are the Urdhwavahurs, who believe in putting the body through severe austerities. There are the Parivajakas, who have taken a vow of silence and go about tinkling little bells to get people out of their way. The Shirshasins stand all 24 hours and meditate for hours standing on their heads. Spending the entire month of Kumbh on the banks of Ganga, meditating, performing rituals and bathing thrice a day, are the Kalpvasis.

Then there are devotees who throng the holy city throughout the year and wash themselves, in the belief that the waters of the river will cleanse them off their sins.

Rituals
Orthodox Hindus believe that a dip in the sacred waters on the auspicious day will cleanse them of all the sins. This ensures their salvation or freedom from the cycle of birth and death.

Ritual bathing is a public act and is performed in the open and on the banks of a river or stream. It includes the complete submergence of the body under water and a libation to the sun. The most auspicious day for the ritual bath at Kumbh is on the day of the new moon.

The Cosmos And Cities
At Prayag, the Kumbh Mela takes place in the month of Magha (January-February) and the highest merit attached is to the bath taken on the new moon day, when the Jupiter is in Aries and both the Sun and the Moon are in Capricorn.

At Hardwar, Kumbh Mela is held in the Hindu months of 'Phalgun' and 'Chaitra', when the Sun passes to Aries and Jupiter is in Aquarius. The bath at Ujjain, on the bank of the river Kshipra is planned during the month of 'Vatshakha', when these planets are in Libra.

At Nasik, on the banks of Godavari (Narmada), the festival is timed to take place in 'Shravana', when the three planets are in Cancer.

In the case of Prayag and Hardwar, in between two Purna (full) Kumbh Melas, an intermediate one, called the Ardha (half) Kumbh Mela is also held. The Ardha Kumbha Mela is held at Prayag and Hardwar in the years in which Purna Kumbha Mela is held at Ujjain and Nasik, respectively.

Every year in the month of 'Magha' (January-February) a fair, known as Magha Mela, is held at Prayag at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the Saraswati and is attended by thousands. It begins on the Makara Sankranti, the last day of the preceding month of 'Pausa'.

Spiritual Tourism
Joining them are the spiritual tourists who come to India in search of self. In the hustle, bustle and devotion that permeates the place they manage to find a semblance of self. In the earlier years there was not much difference between the prince and the pauper and they were all a part of the crowd. This year however, there are big players in the picture. With giant tour and travel companies like Thomas Cook and Cox & Kings putting it in their tour itinerary, tourists are unlikely to face the problems they did earlier. At a distance from the maddening crowds, apart from other comforts, these special tents are even equipped with money changing facilities.

The Auspicious Bathing Days
You can bathe in the holy river any day of the year, but these auspicious days are earmarked after consulting the panchang or the almanac.
January 9, 2001: Paush Poornima -- The last full moon of winter, many pilgrims will have reached and each day more will pour in.
January 14, 2001: Makar Sankranti -- The day when Indian skies are full of kites and the sun enters the constellation, Capricorn.

January 24, 2001: Mauni Amavasya -- Called the 'new moon of the saints', on this day, the saints bathe in the sangam, with more than five million people taking their bath in the holy Ganges. This is the day when you initiate new pupils into a holy monastic order.
January 29, 2001: Vasant Panchami -- The fifth day of the brighter half of the lunar month, it marks the advent of spring in North India.
February 8, 2001: Magh Purnima -- This is the full moon of the month Magha (January-February).
February 21, 2001: Maha Shiv Ratri -- The birthday of Lord Shiva and the night is spent singing devotional songs, in praise of the God.

Getting There
Air:
The nearest airport Varanasi (135 kms) is connected by Indian Airlines flights from Agra, Bhubaneswar, Mumbai, Delhi, Khajuraho and Lucknow.

Rail:
Allahabad is an important rail terminus connected by rail with all the major cities in India.
Fare (approx.): Calcutta-Allahabad Rs 1500 (AC-I), Rs 940 (AC-2A), Rs 750 (I), Rs 245 (II).

Road:
Allahabad is connected by road with the major cities in India. Important road distances from Allahabad are:- Agra 483 kms, Delhi 612 kms, Lucknow 227 kms, Lumbini 406 kms, Khajuraho 294 kms, Varanasi 127 kms, Mumbai 1,502 kms, Chitrakoot 128 kms.

Bus Service:
Direct buses are available from Allahabad to Chitrakoot, Ayodhya, Varanasi, Lucknow and Kanpur

Staying There
There are many tent colonies springing up in and near Allahabad. Many of them promise activities like yoga classes, Kerala herbal oil massage and naturotherapy, a resident astrologer, crafts, live performances and even an internet connection. The rates of these luxury tents range from Rs 1000 to Rs 2000 for Indians and $25 to $ 50 a day for foreigners. With the throng of tourists and devotees likely to descend this year you'd be better off if you get an advance booking.

Transport and Accomodation Fee is subject to change.
Currency exchange rate: 1 US Dollar = INR 49 (Subject to International Fluctuations)

- Shalini Seth / IndiaBytes

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