December 25, 2011
Ardha Kumbha Mela and Maha Kumbha
Mela are the main river festivals of India. Maha Kumbha Mela occurs once in
every twelve years where as the Ardha Kumbha Mela occurs once in every six
years. The venue for these Kumbha Melas keeps changing depending upon the
zodiac positions.
Kumbha Melas have a significant role
to play in the Indian continent. They are part of Indian rituals related to rivers.
Earliest mention of these Kumbha Melas would be seen in the accounts of the
Chinese traveler Hsuan-Tsang.
The traveler mentions about these Kumbha melas as
these were held during Harshavardhana’s rule. As the legends describe during the ‘Samudra
Manthan’ (the great churning of ocean) drops of nectar spilled over different
part of India including rivers. So, it is said that by taking dip in the rivers
on a particular zodiac event one would accomplish the salvation. He would get
rid of the follies committed so far by him. The cities where these Kumbha Melas
would be held are: Ujjain, Prayag, Allahabad and Nashik. Millions of devotees
would witness this event. Sometimes stampedes occur. The rituals consist of
taking ritual bath in the river, mass feeding, Shayya daan (gifting beds-a
Buddhist ritual) and taking part in the discourses upon scriptures. There is not
much difference between Maha Kumbha Mela and the Ardha (Half) Kumbha Mela
except the time span involved between two Kumbha Melas. Apart from ritual bathing these Melas provide
for intra-religious modifications.
Last Ardha Kumbha Mela was held at Prayag
in the year 2007. Venue for the next Ardha Kumbha is at Nashik.
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