NEW DELHI: Kumbh Mela is a religious festival of the Hindus that occurs once every 12 years, and is celebrated in four major pilgrim centres in the country at different times. According to mythological stories and scriptures, drops of Amrita
or nectar carried by the gods and demons in a pot or kumbh (Kumbha is a
Sanskrit word which means pitcher) obtained after churning the oceans fell in
Godavari river in Nashik in Maharashtra, and three other places - Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh), Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh), Haridwar (Uttarakhand). Every 12 years
Kumbh Mela is held in all these places. Allahabad and Haridwar also hold ardh (half) kumbhs, six years after every Maha Kumbh.
The rivers at these places are the Ganges (Ganga) at Haridwar, the confluence or Sangam of the Ganges and the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati at
Allahabad, Godavari at Nashik and the Shipra river in Ujjain.
Kumbh Mela is celebrated at the four places by rotation, as decided by the positions of the planets, mainly Jupiter (Brihaspati) and the Sun:-
Trimbakeshwar and Nashik in Maharashtra: When Jupiter (Guru) and Sun are in zodiac sign Leo (Simha Rashi).
Haridwar: When Sun is in zodiac sign Aries (Mesha Rashi) and Jupiter is in Aquarius.
Prayag (Allahabad): When Jupiter is in zodiac sign Taurus (Vrishabha Rashi) and Sun is in Capricorn (Makar Rashi).
Ujjain: When Guru and Sun are in zodiac sign Scorpio (Vrishchik Rashi).
Trimbakeshwar is a holy town of Nashik district and is the seat of one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. There is a Jyotirlinga temple situated there.
Maha Kumbh Shahi Snan at Nashik and Trimbakeshwar:-
- The first Maha Kumbh Shahi Snan: August 29, on Shravan Sudha poornima. The ghats: Ramkund in Nashik and Kushavart at Trimbakeshwar.
- The second Maha Kumbh Shahi Snan: September 13 on Shravan Sudha Amavasya. The ghats: Ramkund in Nashik and Kushavart at Trimbakeshwar.
- The third Maha Kumbh Shahi Snan: September 18 on Rushi Panchami. The
ghat - Ramkund in Nashik.
- The third Maha Kumbh Shahi Snan: September 25, on Ekadashi.
The ghat - Kushavart in Trimbakeshwar.
The flag hoisting of the main ceremony of Maha Kumbh Mela at Ram Kunda and
Akhara at Sadhugram was held on July 14, 2015.
