English[inlinetweet prefix= » » tweeter= » » suffix= » »]Kumbh Mela (litterally « feast of the jug ») is a Hindu pilgrimage organized 4 times every 12 years in 4 holy cities : Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik[/inlinetweet]. This pilgrimage can be regarded as one of the most important pilgrimages in the whole world, since some several billions of persons take part in.
The most important event of Kumbh Mela is the immersion in Gange water when it is turning into amrita (the nectar of immortality in hindi). Hindu people believe that in that moment their body is cleaning up from all sins (as well as that of all their ascendants of several dozens generations).
Before the immersion, Kumbh Mela is a true show of corteges. Firstly there is that of sacred men, called Naga Baba, warriors of Shiva, who stream under rain of flowers, then the others. While the immersion, the chain is the same. Firtsly Naga Baba start their bathing, after that, this is a turn of another castes. just after the ablution, everybody cover their body with ashes.
The second stage of Kumbh Mela is the moment when Hindu believers receive blessing from the saints and the moment of the spiritual energy transmission.
According to a Hindu legend, in very early times the gods ans the devils, mortal at that time, concluded a temporary pact to create the nectar of immortality (amrita) from the milk sea and to share it after. But just after succeeding of its creation, the devils stole the jug containing the nectar and were pursued by the gods during 12 godlike days and 12 godlike nights ( equivalent for 12 human years). During their fighting for the jug of amrita, 4 drops fell down in 4 different places : Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik. That’s why these 4 cities are now sacred and the place of Kumbh Mela celebration.
The next Kumbh Mela pilgrimage will take place this year 2015 from August 26th to September 25th.
If you want to have a small hint of the immersion ceremony, the video is here :