|
|
|
|
Maha Kumbh '2010- Haridwar |
|
|
|
The biggest religious ceremony in the world, known as "Maha Kumbh Mela" (Great Festival of Urn), will take place in the northern Indian town of Haridwar on the banks of river Ganges. Here, millions of people will have their ritual cleansing bath on eleven auspicious days from the beginning of January up to the end of April. Kumbh Mela derives its name from the immortal - Pot of Nectar - described in ancient Vedic scriptures known as the Puranas. Kumbh in Sanskrit language means 'pot or pitcher'. Mela means 'festival'. Thus Kumbh Mela literally means festival of the pot or a festival celebrating the appearance of the pot of nectar.
|
|
| Haridwar is situated close to the spurs of the Shivaliks, the lowest range of the Himalayas and is regarded as one of the seven holiest places to the Indians. The Holy river Ganga (Ganges) transverse the Himalayas to enter the Plains of North India for the first time at Haridwar and this is what gave the city its ancient name, Gangadwára (the place where the Ganges descends to the plains). Haridwar means "Gate of God's Land" and the link to paradise is established by the holy River Ganges.
|
History
The ancient origin of the Kumbh Mela is described in the time-honored Vedic literatures of India as having evolved from the bygone days of the universe when the demigods and the demons conjointly produced the nectar of immortality. For the task of churning the milk ocean, the Mandara Mountain was used as the churning rod, and Vasuki, the king of serpents, became the rope for churning. As the churning began, the Mandara Mountain began to sink deep into the ocean, at which time Vishnu incarnated as a great tortoise and supported the mountain on His back. With the demigods at Vasuki's tail and the demons at his head, they churned the milk ocean for one thousand years. The churning of the milk ocean first produced a deadly poison which Shiva drank without being affected. Thereafter, a cow named Surabhi appeared who could yield unlimited quantities of milk. A white horse named Uccaihsrava was then appeared, as well as a white elephant named Airavata. Then a valuable gem called the Kaustubha-mani appeared. At last a male person named Dhanvantari appeared carrying the pot of immortal nectar in His hands. The demigods, being fearful of what would happen if the demons drank their share of the nectar of immortality, forcibly seized the pot. In an endeavor to keep the nectar from falling into the hands of the demons, the demigods hid it in four places on the earth, Prayag (Allahabad), Hardwar, Ujjain, and Nasik. At each of the hiding places, a drop of immortal nectar spilled from the pot and landed on the earth and since then, these four places are believed to have acquired a mystical power. During the festival, Hindus consider Hardwar as India's religious capital and more than ten million people would dip into the 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. |
Akhara:
As per the Vedic concept of life, the usual life span of a person was divided into four distinct periods or 'ashrams', Brahmacharya or study period, Grihastha or normal life period, Vanprastha or withdrawal period and Sanyasa or renunciation period. As this system fell into disuse and the concept of Mathas gained prominence and became important centers to propagate the ethical behavior and to protect the Vedic concept of life. The Sanyasis of the various Mathas were divided into various categories governing the various aspects of Vedic life. The Naga Akhara
Movement was founded in the 8th century by Adi Shankaracharya when he established a group of militant initiated followers whose task was to protect pilgrims and sadhus from robbers and other enemies, later called the Nagas. For them the Maha Kumbh Mela is of great significance, because they are the first ones to take the holy dip in the Ganga on the most auspicious day during the Shahi Snan, the "royal bath", which marks the climax of the festival as they are the privileged people who 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 bathing sequence of the various Akharas is absolutely sacrosanct and no alteration is possible as the exact time for start, bathing and return are prescribed under the provisions of section 39 of the Indian Police Act. The Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad, the apex body of all the sadhus, mahants and mandleshwars of different Akharas & Sampradyas, decides the dates of the Shahi Snans for the Kumbh and conveys the same to the Kumbh Mela administration. |
The Main Bathing Dates At The Haridwar Kumbh are: |
- January 14, 2010 (Thursday) Makar Sankranti Snan First Snan (bath)
- January 15, 2010 (Friday) Mauni Amavasya and Surya Grahan (Solar Eclipse) Second Snan (bath)
- January 20, 2010 (Wednesday) Basant Panchmi Snan Third Snan (bath)
- January 30, 2010 (Saturday) Magh Purnima Snan Fourth Snan (bath)
- February 12, 2010 (Friday) Maha Shivratri ratham Shahi Snan (First Royal Bath)
- March 15, 2010 (Monday) Somvati Amavasya Dvitya Shahi Snan (Second Royal Bath)
- March 16, (Tuesday) Nvasamvatsar Snan Fifth Snan (bath)
- March 24, 2010 (Wednesday) Rama Navami Sixth Snan (bath)
- March 30, 2010 (Tuesday) Chaitra Purnima/Vasishnav Akhara Snan seventh Snan (bath)
- April 14, 2010 (Wednesday) Baisakhi Pramukh Shahi Sanan (Main Royal Bath)
- April 28, 2010 (Wednesday) Vaishakh Adimasaha Purnima Snan for the Vairagis/Bairagis (Fourth Royal Bath)
|
 |
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". |
Accommodation during Maha Kumbh 2010
Swati Travels will be making special arrangements to provide comfortable stay and quality experience to the visitors. Our efforts of providing deluxe tents / hotels at Maha Kumbh Allahabad in 2001 had been appreciated worldwide and further, The Char Dham Camps in Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath has become synonymous with the best hospitality experience at these famous destinations among religious tourists. |
Some of the major highlights of the camps/hotels:- |
- Accommodation in spacious deluxe rooms / weather proof luxury-tents
- Attached baths and toilets with running Hot & Cold water
- Multi cuisine vegetarian Satvik dining facilities offering international (continental, Chinese) and regional cuisines (Gujrati, South India and other Indian cuisines)
- Hot water bottles as sun down service
- Guided visits to the shrine
- First aid at camps with oxygen cylinders
- Escorted walk and visits to nearby areas
- STD / ISD calling facilities at the camps
- Well structured activity blocks at each of the campsites to take care of everyday
- Aarti
- Religious discourses
- Yoga lessons
- Srimad Bhagwat Katha Path
- Meditation
- A media and utilities center at all the campsites
- Ayurvedic massages & Spa Centre
- Escorted walks to various events during Maha Kumbh 2010
- Folk Dances every evening
- Private bathing ghat (at Lahore House), exclusively for Maha Kumbh Camp guests
- Thatched roof reception
- Safety Vault at reception for valuables
- Tea lounge 24 X 7
|
 |
JUST NOT AN ACCOMODATION |
|
| At "Maha Kumbh Camp", hospitality is not restricted to offering guests just accommodation & food; it goes beyond this established norm. The guests decide how they want to define their experience. Guests are offered a glimpse of the local culture & heritage and a variety of activities to choose from. |
Some of the options available are:- |
- An Enchanting cultural evening in with folk dances
- Bhajan and Kirtan every day
- A traditional welcome with a steamed towel awaits you on your arrival at the camps
- Post Maha Kumbh tours to winter seats of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath
- Special arrangement to organize Private Srimad Bhagwat Katha.
|
| Our special Offers also include |
| Traditional welcome and welcome drink on arrival
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner every day
Unlimited Tea Coffee in the lounge
Escorted walks twice during day to the special events during Maha Kumbh
Escorted walk to the exclusive private bathing ghat for Camp guests
Bhajan & Kirtan
Folk dance
Srimad Bhagwat path every day
|
 |
| Beyond Maha Kumbh
| We encourage our guest while they are in Uttarakhand to have their lifetime experience in Maha Kumbh, to extend their journey to explore other parts of Uttarakhand as well. We recommend
Corbett National Park - 180 Kms / 4 Hrs from Haridwar, this world famous wildlife destinations and India's pioneering effort in conservation of its nature and natural heritage offers excellent opportunity for game viewing on Elephant Back or in 4WD jeep. Swati Travels, with its properties The Corbett Hideaway, The River View Retreat and The Hideaway River Lodge offers unmatched Jeep & Elephant Safaris, Angling, Birding and Horse Riding experience.
The Fort Unchagaon -210 Kms from Haridwar and from Corbett National Park as well, 'Splendid' is the word that instantly strikes us as we enter the premises of the royal heritage hotel - Fort Unchagaon. Historical records suggest that the present Raja Surendra Pal Singh inherited Fort Unchagaon in 1927 at the tender age of ten. An easy access to Agra which is just 180 Kms from Fort Unchagaon
Chardham Yatra & Hemkund Sahib - Haridwar is a base to start the Chardham Yatra - come and experience more on the one of its kind spiritual pilgrimage across the Himalayas. The Chardham Yatra is undertaken to encompass the 4 major places of worship as per Hindu mythology; Gangotri - the emergence of the river Ganges, Goddess Ganga, Yamunotri - the emergence of the river Yamuna, Goddess Yamuna, Kedarnath - near the river Mandakini, Lord Shiva &Badrinath - near the river Alaknanda, Lord Vishnu. Hemkund Sahib (alt 4600 m) is an important Sikh place of worship high up in the Himalayas.
Valley of Flowers (avg alt 4239 m) is a place of interest for nature lovers and is an outstandingly beautiful high-altitude Himalayan valley that has been acknowledged by renowned mountaineers and botanists. Available from The Char Dham Camp, Joshimath
Auliis the only ski destination blessed with a panoramic view of the Himalayan range and has Asia's longest cable car Gondola along with a chair and ski lift for ease of accessibility. Available from The Char Dham Camp, Joshimath
|
|
| |
|
|
|
