The Kumbh Mela is one of the most important gatherings for Hindus, taking place this year at Haridwar. There are special days dedicated for bathing in the holy Ganga.

The Kumbh Mela is the largest gathering of humanity in history. It takes place every third year at Allahabad, c. This year the fair is being held at Haridwar. The festival begins on January 14, which is Makar Sankranti and ends on April 28.

Haridwar means the Gateway to God. It is a town at the foothills of the Himalayas and the sacred river Ganga enters the plains at Haridwar. The pilgrimage to Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Jamnotri begins at Haridwar and that is the reason for its name.

The Mythology and the Astronomy of the Kumbh

The Kumbh has its origins in one of the most intriguing tales from Hindu mythology. The pot containing amrit was obtained from the churning of the oceans. Kumbh literally means pot and amrit is the nectar of immortality. Garuda, the divine bird, flew away with the pot so as to prevent it from falling into the hands of the demons. During the flight a few drops of the nectar spilled at Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik making these places eternally holy.

The Kumbh Mela coincides with a particular pattern of planets that is believed to be holy. This pattern repeats every third year marking those years out for the fair.

Ritual Bathing in the Ganga During the Kumbh

As such there are several religious activities that take place during the Kumbh fair. These include religious discourses, community singing of bhajans and ritual sacrifices. But the most important aspect of the Kumbh is ritual bathing in the Ganga. Certain days have been designated for bathing and it is those days that draw the maximum crowd. These days have special significance. The dates given relate to this Kumbh fair only.

The first bath is on January 14. This is the auspicious day of Makar Sankranti when the sun begins its northward journey. The second bath is on January 15, which is known as Mauni Amavasya. Mauni pertains to the vow of silence, which is a spiritual practice advocated in Hinduism. Amavasya is the night of the new moon. Mauni Amavasya falls in the Hindu month of Magh and is the last day of the traditional period of observing the vow of silence. This year there is a solar eclipse on January 15 and ritual bathing after an eclipse is considered mandatory.

The third bath is on January 20. This is Basant Panchami, which heralds the advent of spring. Apart from having agricultural significance, Basant Panchami is the day for paying homage to Saraswati, who is the consort of Brahma and the Goddess of learning and the arts. The fourth bath is on January 30. The full moon night of the month of Magh falls on this day.

The first royal bath (shahi snan) is on February 12. Shivratri falls on this day. Shivratri is celebrated as the wedding anniversary of Shiva and Parvati. This marriage is believed to be one of the grandest in Hindu mythology. A shahi snan is when the various sects of ascetics take the ritual bath. Many believe that there is no sight more awesome than this.

The second royal bath is on March 15, which is Somvati Amavasya. The significance of this day, narrated to Yudhishthir by Bheeshma in the Mahabharata, is that bathing in the sacred rivers leads to prosperity, health and happiness. It is also believed that the souls of ancestors will rest in peace if the descendants bathe in the holy rivers on this day.

The fifth bath is on March 24 on Rama Navami. This is the birth anniversary of Rama, who was born on the ninth day of the bright fortnight of Chaitra. The sixth bath is on March 30. Purnima, or the full moon night, of the month of Chaitra falls on this day.

The main royal bath is on April 14. This is the first day of the Hindu New Year, which begins with the month of Vaisakha. The seventh bath is on April 20. This is the last day of the Kumbh Mela and is the full moon night of the month of Vaisakha.

The dates of the Kumbh Mela, and especially the auspicious bathing dates, highlight the importance of astronomical positions in Hinduism.