Kumbh Mela 2016- Ujjain, India – More than 60 million people’s are expected to visit kumbh mela at Ujjain

More than 60 million people’s are expected to visit kumbh mela at Ujjain 

Image Credit: ujjaindarshan. com

According to the Puranas, the city of Ujjain was called Avantika and was famous for its beauty and its devotional epicenter. medieval Hindu theology, its origin is found in one of the most popular medieval puranas, the Bhagavata Purana. The Samudra manthan episode (Churning of the ocean of milk), is mentioned in the Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu Purana, the Mahabharata, and the Ramayana. The history goes that the Devas had lost their strength by the curse of Durvasa Muni, and to regain it, they approached Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva. Kumbh derives its name from the immortal Pot of Nectar, which the (Devtas) and Demons (Asuras) fought over, described in ancient Vedic scriptures known as the Puranas. It is these Vedic literature’s that have stood the test of time, out of which the tradition has evolved into the one that the world now knows as The Kumbh Mela. Legend tells a tale from the bygone days of the universe when the demigods and the demons conjointly produced the nectar of immortality. The Asuras, because cursed, were crippled of fear that eventually made them weak. The task being too sturdy for them alone, the Asuras made a mutual agreement with the demons to complete it in full and share the nectar of immortality in half. It is said that the demigods and the demons assembled on the shore of the milk ocean that lies in the celestial region of the cosmos. And it began! It is believed that during the battle, the drops of amrita fell down from Kumbh at four places: Allahabad (Prayag), Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik. Because 12 days of Gods are equivalent to 12 years for humans; the Kumbh Mela is celebrated once every 12 years in each of the four places – banks of river Godavari in Nasik, river shipra in Ujjain, river Ganges in Haridwar, and at the Sangam of Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati in Allahabad, where the drops are believed to have fallen. Bathing during the time of Kumbh mela is thought by Hindus to be of immeasurable significance. It also becomes a time in which people of different sects resolve their differences to bathe in holy waters, to resolve sins that all share in. Millions of people gather in the world’s largest pilgrimage during an astrologically auspicious time to absolve their sins. Mythology, literature and history become one as a culture and a religion is celebrated. Class and caste although carefully defined come together in a world renowned event. This can become a stage in which politics and economics is acted out, which in turn redefines the Kumbh mela.

Schedule of Kumbh Mela, 2016

Date	Day	Ocassion
22 April 2016	Friday (Purnima)	Shahi Snaan
03 May 2016	Tuesday	Kumbh Snan
06 May 2016	Friday	Kumbh Snan
09 May 2016	Monday	Kumbh Snan
11 May 2016	Wednesday	Kumbh Snan
15 May 2016	Sunday	Kumbh Snan
17 May 2016	Tuesday	Kumbh Snan
19 May 2016	Thursday	Kumbh Snan
20 May 2016	Friday	Kumbh Snan
21 May 2016	Saturday (Purnima)	Shahi Snan