Maha Kumbh Mela

The biggest religious ceremony in the world, known as “Maha Kumbh Mela” ( Great Festival of Urn ), will take place in Haridwar on the banks of river Ganges. Kumbh Mela derives its name from the immortal - Pot of Nectar - described in ancient Vedic scriptures known as the Puranas. Kumbh Mela literally means festival of the pot or a festival celebrating the appearance of the pot of nectar. During the festival, Hindus consider Haridwar as India’s religious capital and more than ten million people dip into the holy Ganga, in order to purify body, mind and soul and wash off their sins. On the eve of such a bathing day, the town vibrates in hectic religious fever and the centre stage of the Maha Kumbh Mela is occupied by the sadhus who belong to dozens of Hindu sects.
After visiting the Kumbh Mela of 1895, Mark Twain wrote -

“It is wonderful, the power of a faith like that, that can make multitudes upon multitudes of the old and weak and the young and frail enter without hesitation or complaint upon such incredible journeys and endure the resultant miseries without repining. It is done in love, or it is done in fear; I do not know which it is. No matter what the impulse is, the act born of it is beyond imagination, marvelous to our kind of people, the cold whites.”
 Akhara: For Naga Sadhus, the Mahakumbh is of great significance, because they are the privileged ones to take the holy dip in the Ganga on the most auspicious day during the Shahi Snan or the “royal bath”, which marks the climax of the festival as they are said to cleanse the river goddess. These processions are meticulously organized formations where thousands of Naga Sadhus having matted hair, ash smeared body, naked and totally unmindful and unconcerned of the public gaze, stride towards the Ganges in a zeal of religious fervour.

The Main Bathing Dates At The Haridwar Mahakumbh ‘2010

 

1. January 14, 2010 ( Thursday ) Makar Sankranti Snan First Snan ( bath ).
2. January 15, 2010 ( Friday ) Mauni Amavasya and Surya Grahan ( Solar Eclipse ) Second Snan

       ( bath ).

1. January 20, 2010 ( Wednesday ) Basant Panchmi Snan Third Snan ( bath ).
2. January 30, 2010 ( Saturday ) Magh Purnima Snan Fourth Snan ( bath ).
3. February 12, 2010 ( Friday ) Maha Shivratri ratham Shahi Snan ( First Royal Bath ).
4. March 15, 2010 ( Monday ) Somvati Amavasya  Dvitya Shahi Snan ( Second Royal Bath ).
5. March 16, ( Tuesday ) Nvasamvatsar Snan Fifth Snan ( bath ).
6. March 24, 2010 ( Wednesday ) Rama Navami Sixth Snan ( bath ).
7. March 30, 2010 ( Tuesday ) Chaitra Purnima/Vasishnav Akhara Snan Seventh Snan ( bath ).
8. April 14, 2010 ( Wednesday ) Baisakhi Pramukh Shahi Snan ( Main Royal Bath ).
9. April 28, 2010 ( Wednesday ) Vaishakh Adimasaha Purnima Snan for the Vairagis / Bairagis

      ( Fourth Royal Bath ).

The ' Mahakumbh 2010 ' camp is meant to be more than warm hospitality and heartfelt thoughtfullness.
We'd like our guests to take back with them an intrinsic part of the local culture through a host of activities like :
-    Evening Folk Dance Performances.
-    Daily ' Bhajans ' & ' Kirtans '.
-    Private Srimad Bhagwatgita Kathas.
-    Post Mahakumbh Mela tours to the winter seats of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath & Badrinath.