Maha Kumbh Mela is a religious and divine event celebrated every 12th year in India since time immemorial. With imprints from the age of deities and Asur, Kumbh mela is fair and has extreme spiritual, astrological, cultural significance in Hinduism. It takes place every 12 years at the sacred banks of India’s holy rivers in Prayagraj, Nashik, Haridwar and Ujjain. On the occasion of the mela, saints, Nagas, and pilgrims from across the world assemble to take the holy dip in the rivers and procure the blessings from heaven. In this blog, we will like to tell you about the Significance, rituals, history and celebrations of Maha Kumbh Mela.
Maha Kumbh Mela 2025
The Maha Kumbh Mela in 2025 will be celebrated in Prayagraj, U.P. from January 13th to February 26th, 2025. Millions of devotees will come here from all over the world, where they will take a holy bath at the confluence of 3 rivers (Triveni Sangam- 3 Rivers: Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati).
Important dates of Maha Kumbh Mela 2025:
13 January 2025: Paush Purnima
14 January 2025: Makar Sankranti (First Shahi Snan)
29 January 2025: Mauni Amavasya (Second Shahi Snan)
03 February 2025: Basant Panchami (Third Shahi Snan)
04 February 2025: Achla Saptami
12 February, 2025: Maghi Purnima
26 February 2025: Maha Shivratri (Final Snan)
Also Read: Why Lord Shiva is Worshipped in The Month of Saawan?
Significance of Maha Kumbh Mela
Maha Kumbh Mela has astrological, spiritual and historical significance in Hinduism. It is believed to be a key to get rid of sins and attain enlightenment.
Kumbh Mela has been observed since the Vedic age. Thousands of years ago, Deities and Demons got together during churning of ocean (Samudra Manthan) to get Amrit or the elixir for immortality. They churned the ocean together and all that emerged from the ocean was equally divided. Dhanvantri, the Goddess emerged with the nectar. The agreement between the deities and demons broke as the demons ran away with the pot of nectar (Amrit). The war between Asur and Devtas lasted for 12 days between them and 12 days of God is equal to 12 years of Humans. According to story, when demons were running with a pot of nectar, they were chased by deities. During the chase, a few drops of the nectar fell at four places: Haridwar, Nashik, Ujjain, and Prayagraj. These places became sacred, and that is why the Kumbh Mela is held only at these four locations.
Astrological Significance of Kumbh Mela
The Kumbh Mela is held every 12 years when Planet Jupiter enters the Aries constellation during the month of Magh, on the new moon day. The location of the Maha Kumbh Mela is not chosen randomly. It is determined by the planetary alignment, selecting one of the four places where the drops of nectar are believed to have fallen. When the Sun and Aquarius enter into the Aries and Aquarius constellation, Haridwar is chosen for Kumbh festival. The venue for Kumbh Mela is decided to be Nasik on the bank of Godavari River when the planet Jupiter moves into Leo.
Kumbh is organized in Ujjain, when Jupiter moves into Leo and the Sun enters into Aries. Likewise, the destination for Kumbh Mela is decided to be Ujjain when the Sun and the Moon are together, and Jupiter enters into Libra. The grand and historic celebration of the mela of Kumbh is arranged in Prayagraj when the Sun, Jupiter, and the Moon move in cancer on Amavasya. When the Sun and the Moon are in the Capricorn zodiac sign and Jupiter moves in the Aries constellation, Kumbh is organized at Prayagraj on the day of the new moon. It is also celebrated in Prayagraj when Jupiter and the Sun enter into Taurus and Capricorn respectively.
Kumbh Mela is a unique event that involves astronomy, spirituality, astrology, rituals, culture, and deep beliefs. Pilgrims of all ages, Hindu communities, devotees, saints, and Nagas come together to perform special rituals and offer prayers during this sacred gathering. Akharas organize traditional ceremonies, processions, and events during the Kumbh Mela. There is a ritual of Shahi Snan by different Akharas. Presidents or chiefs of Akharas have the right to bath first in the Akharas at the start of the Kumbh Mela. The common public can take a dip in the holy river only after followers of 13 Akharas take a dip.
Also Read: Importance of Spiritual Mantras
Rituals at the Maha Kumbh
Aarti
Aarti is a part of veneration that involves the act of expressing gratitude to the almighty or deity. In Kumbh Mela, there is a ritual of showing gratefulness to the river for providing the opportunity to the general public to take a holy dip in its water which is considered to contain nectar during Maha Kumbh Mela. In Prayagraj, Aartis are performed at the merging point (Sangam) of the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers. Aarti of 3 Rivers is done by thousands of people with thali having flowers, lit diyas and other offerings such as rice, Kumkum, etc along with chanting the hymns with great enthusiasm which is a kind off once in a lifetime view for many. Aartis is done by priests also called Batuks. Lighting a diya symbolizes the importance of the five elements (Panchtatva) and honors the sacred deity of the river.
There is a ritual of deep Daan after Aarti in the holy river. In this lots of diyas are made to float on the river as a part of reverence of the river and the nectar in it. Hundreds and thousands of Diyas not only make the river dazzling but also do the work of spiritual enlightenment to the devotees. These diyas mark the reverence to the divine power and the holy river.
Also Read: Benefits of Aarties in daily Life
Snan at Maha Kumbh
Kumbh mela involves a ritual of bathing in the water of the sacred river. Millions of people gather at the banks of the rivers to perform the ritual of bathing. It is believed that Snan is a mode to get rid of sins of past and present births. Pilgrims believe that after bathing, their souls will be free from the cycle of births and attain Moksha. In every Maha Kumbh, there is a ritual of Shahi Snan which involves processions of all Akharas who hold the right to take the first Snan or Royal Snan in the Maha Kumbh.
Kalpavas
The word "Kalpavas" comes from "Kalp" and "Vas," meaning a holy stay to strengthen the connection with divine power. It lasts for 21 days, during which pilgrims dedicate themselves to worship and stay free from negative thoughts and actions. During this time, devotees live in camps set up by Akharas and the Indian government along the riverbanks. They spend their time in veneration, reading scriptures, listening to Maha purans of deities, fasting, etc. The span of Kalpavas is usually 1 month; devotees can however keep it as per their will to 21 days, 5 days, or 11 days. Devotees are supposed to follow the norms such as practicing good deeds, non–violence, observing celibacy, being kind, performing pind daan, being an early bird, practicing satsang, practicing Jaap, shetra sanyas, offering services to saints, Japa, sleeping on the ground, taking bath daily, etc during the sacred stay at Maha Kumbh.
‘Brahmacharya’ (The practice of celibacy)
Another ritual is to stay away from luxuries, intimacy, and other things of tamsik nature. All pilgrims are bound to maintain celibacy throughout the Kalpavas.
Fasting (Vrat)
Devotees fast on the days of Shahi Snan or other significant days that fall in the period of Kumbh Mela. Vrat is kept for blessings and affection of the deity and is divided into Nitya Vrat and Kamya Vrat and while fasting all 10 dharmas of Hinduism is to be followed by devotees.
Dev Pujan (Praying to Gods)
It is a said that the almighty makes his presence during the Kumbh Mela. Pujan of almighty is performed to get their blessings. Meditation, Satsang and kirtan are arranged all over the bank of the river in the worship of God. It is believed that one has to isolate himself and immerse totally in the worship of the lord.
Daan (Donations)
Donations or charities hold immense significance during the Maha Kumbh Mela. Various kinds of daan are practiced during the magnificent mela. Donations of Cows, gold, clothes and money hold astrological as well as spiritual significance. It is believed that to get punya (good deeds), Samraat Harshvardhan used to donate to every Kumbh mela.
Apart from the above deeds, there is also a ritual of donating one’s hair. Daan of hairs is called Venidaan and it is done to set oneself free from all the bad deeds of a person. Only a small Shikha is left on the head and all hairs are donated to the river. It is a mode to get free from sins and accumulate good deeds in one’s account.
Satsang
To enjoy the heights of spirituality, harmony, and bliss during Kumbh mela, living in the company of pure souls such as saints is suggested. Preaching, homilies, and katha by saints are the ideal way to get away from all negative thoughts and materialism. Pilgrims make sure to be part of Satsang in Kumbh Mela to filter the negativity of their souls and get pure.
Shradh
During the Kumbh Mela, there is also a ritual of paying homage to deceased family members or ancestors with Pind daan or shradhs. This is done to appease the souls of ancestors by performing their tarpan. Special Purohits are available in Kumbh Mela or one can also do it on their own with the right chant of mantras of tarpan.
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