Maha Kumbh Mela 2013

A festival beyond imagination and the largest gathering of humankind in the world

The River Ganges is the holiest river in the world and is the object of great devotion for the people of India. Each day, countless millions come to the banks of this river to be cleansed by its sacred waters. But these daily rituals pale in comparison to the scale of the festival called the Kumbh Mela, a religious event of purification that is attended by up to 70 million people. To put that number in perspective, imagine one quarter of the population of the United States assembling around a city that is half the area of San Francisco. Add to that a massive campground on the dry flood plain of the river to house the tents of the visiting pilgrims. Include a sea of brightly colored costumes, thousands of ash covered and dreadlock clad sadhus, clouds of aromas from tantalizing native dishes and a cacophony of music and chanting that fills the air. Understand that this will only scratch the surface of an attempt to describe this incredible event.

The Kumbh Mela (festival of the pitcher) is the largest gathering of humankind in the world. In 2013, it is held from January 27 to February 25. It takes place in the broad river bed of the River Ganges in the city of Allahabad where the Ganges converges with the Yamuna River. Allahabad is 628 kilometers from Delhi in the central Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and is regarded as one of the seven most holy places in India. Other Kumbh events take place in three other holy cities, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik, in a rotating 12 year cycle. The dates of all festivals in India are determined by auspicious alignments in the heavens with the Kumbh Mela coinciding with Jupiter entering the sign of Aquarius.

History tells that at the time of Creation, the gods fought a great battle in the sky for possession of a pitcher containing the sacred nectar of immortality. During the battle, four drops of nectar fell to Earth, landing on the tirthas, or river crossings, of these four cities and bestowing their rivers with healing powers. Tens of millions of devotees come from across India and the world to worship at these sacred rivers during the Kumbh Melas.

For the 2013 festival, the rituals begin on January 27 with the first snan, or ritual bathing, and continue through February 25. There are seven major bathing dates during the festival when it is believed that the waters of the Ganges are particularly charged with healing powers. Although these dates, or kumbhayogs, are subject to larger rituals, that certainly does not limit devotees from dipping into the sacred waters each day or multiple times a day.

For those wishing to witness a spectacular festival that is beyond anything you have ever seen before, contact us soon, as the 2013 Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad promises to be a once in a lifetime event not to be missed.