Haridwar ( Uttarakhand )

Haridwar Kumbh Mela

“ When the Jupiter enters in Kumbh or Aquarius (zodiac sign), also Sun and Moon in Aries and Sagittarius respectively, Kumbha is held at Haridwar ”

“ पद्मिनी नायके मेषे कुम्भ राशि गते गुरोः । गंगा द्वारे भवेद योगः कुम्भ नामा तथोत्तमाः।। “

In Haridwar, Kumbh Mela is held on the banks of river Ganga. It takes place during Hindu calendar month of Chaitra (March-April) when Jupiter is in Aquarius and Sun in Aries. The Kumbh Mela is held every 12 years at Haridwar and Ardh Kumbh is held six years after a Kumbh Mela. Last time, Kumbh Mela was held in 2010 and Ardh Kumbh in 2016.

The Kumbh Mela at Haridwar is a mela held every 12 years at Haridwar, India. The exact date is determined according to Hindu astrology: the Mela is held when Jupiter is in Aquarius and the sun enters Aries. An Ardh Kumbh ("Half Kumbh") Mela is held six years after a Kumbh Mela.

The fair has a religious significance to Hindus, but it has also attracted people from other faiths. Historically, it was an important commercial event, and was attended by merchants from as far as Arabia. The last Haridwar Kumbh Mela took place in 2010; the next one is scheduled in 2021,while an Ardh Kumbh Mela took place in 2016. Haridwar is one of the four sites of Kumbh Mela, the others being Prayag (Allahabad), Trimbak (Nashik) and Ujjain. Although there are several references to riverside bathing festivals in ancient Indian literature, the exact age of the Kumbh Mela is uncertain.

The fair at Haridwar appears to be the original Kumbh Mela, since it is held according to the astrological sign Kumbha (Aquarius), and because there are several references to a 12-year cycle for it. The Haridwar Kumbh Mela dates at least from the early 1600s. The earliest extant texts that use the name "Kumbha Mela" are Khulasat-ut-Tawarikh (1695) and Chahar Gulshan (1789). Both these texts use the term "Kumbh Mela" to describe only Haridwar's fair, although they mention the similar fairs at Allahabad (the annual Magh Mela) and Nashik (the Simhastha). The Kumbh Melas at the other three places seem to be adaptation of Haridwar's Kumbh Mela to the pre-existing local festivals. The Muslim conqueror Timur invaded Haridwar in 1398, and massacred a number of pilgrims, possibly at a Kumbh Mela.

One of the holiest places in India, It is significant that pilgrims often go from Haridwar to the two great Himalayan shrines of Kedarnath and Badrinath, as Har means Shiva (the deity of Kedarnath), Hari means Vishnu (the deity of Badrinath), and Dwar means gate. Hardwar is therefore the gateway to the two holy shrines of Shiva and Vishnu. All religions believe that the destiny of mankind is determined by the celestial war that goes on between good & evil, in essence, are a celebration of the victory of good over evil. Kumbh means ‘vessel’ and mela means ‘a festival’. At the root of the kumbh mela legend, is the search for the nector of immortality that would end the war between gods and demons.

Every 03 years, a kumbh mela is held by rotation in Haridwar, Prayagraj, Nashik & Ujjain. Then there are the Ardh kumbh melas at Haridwar & Prayag raj, every six year, the purna kumbh mela held every 12 years (only at prayagraj). And the greatest blessings for the pilgrims – both the sadhus & ordinary person is bathing in the holy waters of Ganges in 2021at Haridwar, where millions of devotees would come to bath during the forthcoming kumbh mela, considered as the holiest site for the holy dip.

At the heart of the greatest gathering on earth, behind the gigantic , all encompassing energy of belief & power, lies the spiritual secret of Hinduism – the MOKSHA. Astrologically whenever Jupiter enters in Aquarius & Sun in Aries,a powerful supercharge happens at Haridwar. The whole area is energize – the water, the air, and the entire atmosphere becomes charged with that force. Taking bath in Ganges which is imbued with that power, promotes spiritual growth, health, emotional strength and put you on the path of MOKSHA. Crowds, or even the prospect of one, may be anathema everywhere, but the government has begun planning for the Maha Kumbh Mela in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, in January 2021. The gathering has a long history and draws large crowds from the world over, who come to take a ritualistic dip in the Ganga.

The Maha Kumbh Mela is organised once in 12 years, and the last time the event was held in 2010, about 10 million had reportedly congregated in the city.