The Maha Kumbh Mela, the largest human gathering on Earth, has begun in Prayagraj, India. Millions of devotees are expected to converge on the city over the next six weeks for the sacred ritual of bathing in the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers.
India inaugurated its Maha Kumbh Mela , or Great Pitcher Festival, yesterday, anticipating over 400 million visitors to the northern city of Prayagraj over six weeks. This monumental gathering is projected to be the largest in human history. The Kumbh Mela , a recurring event held every three years in four cities situated on the banks of sacred rivers across India, takes on an amplified significance every 12 years.
This particular iteration, marked as 'maha,' or great, is considered more auspicious, attracting a colossal throng of worshippers. Devout Hindus believe that immersing themselves in these sacred rivers washes away their sins and that such dips during the Kumbh Mela grant salvation from the cycle of life and death. The festival's origins trace back to the Rigveda, a fundamental text of Hindu scriptures. The word 'kumbh' refers to a pitcher containing the elixir of immortality that emerged during a divine event known as the 'Sagar Manthan,' or churning of the cosmic ocean. During a celestial battle for the elixir, spanning 12 days in divine time equivalent to 12 human years, drops of the nectar fell at four sacred locations: Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik, and Ujjain, becoming the sites of the Kumbh Mela.At these locations, devotees from diverse Hindu sects, or Akharas, participate in grand processions, culminating in the 'Shahi Snaan,' or royal bath, where they take a dip in the sacred river. The spectacle draws millions not only for the ritual but also for the chance to witness thousands of ascetics, often clad in traditional saffron attire, immersing themselves in near-freezing water. The Kumbh Mela transcends national borders, attracting international figures such as actor Richard Gere, filmmaker David Lynch, and Tibetan Buddhist leader the Dalai Lama. In 2017, UNESCO recognized the Kumbh Mela as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The organization of this massive event presents an immense challenge for authorities. To accommodate the anticipated influx, 150,000 tents have been erected, a number that roughly triples the population of Russia. Authorities aim to provide 450,000 new electricity connections, with over half already allocated. The effort involves over 5,000 workers. The Kumbh Mela is projected to require almost 300 million rupees ($3.5 million) worth of power supplies, a figure exceeding the average monthly consumption of 100,000 urban apartments in the region. Drones and surveillance cameras have been deployed to enhance visitor safety, a crucial measure given past stampedes. Tragically, 36 pilgrims lost their lives in a stampede during the 2013 event
KUMBH MELA INDIA PRAYAGRAJ HINDU RELIGION PILGRIMAGE SAGAR MANTHAN SHAHI S NAAN UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE
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