Kumbh Mela

At approximately 11:30pm, 30 minutes before the beginning of a very auspices time in history. I was contacted (via Facebook instant messenger) by my friend Maximilian Valentin Eder. During our chat, Maximilian reminded me of Kumbh Mela.

Between, January 14 to April 28, 2010, after 4,333 Earth days, or almost 12 Earth years Jupiter will complete one orbit as it moves into the zodiac sign of Aquarius or Kumbha.

Kumbh Mela is attended by millions of people on a single day. The major event of the festival is a ritual bath at the banks of the rivers in four towns.

• Prayag at the confluence of the Ganga
• Haridwar along the Ganga river,
• Ujjain along the Kshipra river
• Nashik along the Godavari river.

The 1998 Kumbh Mela saw over 10 million pilgrims visiting Hardwar, to take a dip in the holy river, Ganga

Bathing dates

• 14 January 2010 (Thursday) – Makar Sankranti Snan – First Snan (translation: bath)
• 15 January 2010 (Friday) – Mauni Amavasya and Surya Grahan (translation: Solar Eclipse) – Second Snan
• 20 January 2010 (Wedesday) – Basant Panchmi Snan – Third snan
• 30 January 2010 (Saturday) – Magh Purnima Snan – Fourth Snan
• 12 February 2010 (Friday) – Maha Shivratri – Pratham Shahi Snan (translation: First Royal Bath).
• 15 March 2010 (Monday) – Somvati Amavasya – Dvitya Shahi Snan (translation: Second Royal Bath).
• 16 March 2010 (Tuesday) – Navsatrambh Snan
• 24 March 2010 (Wednesday) – Ram Navmi – Fifth Snan
• 30 March 2010 (Tuesday) – Chaitra purnima Snan
• 14 April 2010 (Wednesday) – Baisakhi – Pramukh Shahi Snan (translation: Main Royal Bath).
• 28 April 2010 (Wednesday) – Shakh Purnima – Snan

“In Hindu mythology, its origin is found the one of the popular creation myths and the Hindu theories on evolution, the Samudra manthan episode (Churning of the ocean of milk), which finds mention in the Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu Purana, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana ^[13].

The Gods had lost their strength, and to regain it, they thought of churning the Ksheera Sagara (primordial ocean of milk) for amrit (the nectar of immortality), this required them to make a temporary agreement with their arch enemies, the demons or Asuras to work together, with a promise of sharing the nectar equally thereafter ^[14]. However, when the Kumbha (urn) containing the amrita appeared, a fight ensued. For twelve days and twelve nights (equivalent to twelve human years) the gods and demons fought in the sky for the pot of amrita. It is believed that during the battle, Lord Vishnu flew away with the Kumbha of elixir, and that is when drops of amrita fell at four places on earth: Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik, and that is where the Kumbh Mela is observed every twelve years ^[15].”

– Kumbh Mela Wikipedia