How Many People can Travel to the Kumbh Mela in One Day.

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How Many People can Travel to the Kumbh Mela in One Day.

From New Delhi to Allahabad by Rail

As getting a train ticket in India is a herculean task, this post aims to estimate the situation of available train seats at the peak time during the Kumbh Mela in January and February 2013.  The world famous festival will observe people coming from every part of the world to witness the grandeur of the pilgrimage. Following is list of trains from New Delhi to Allahabad and the speculated waiting scenario for the ordinary public to travel by rail during the Maha Kumbh if the tickets are not booked well in advance (120 days). The list is taken from the Indian Railways website on 30-Aug-2013.

 

Train No. Train Name Origin Dep.Time Destination Arr.Time Days Of Run
M T W T F S S
18110 ++JAT MURI ROU EX *SUBZI MANDI 04:11 ALLAHABAD JN 15:30 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
12312 +KALKA MAIL *ADRSH NGR DELHI 05:48 ALLAHABAD JN 17:20 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
+NANDAN KANAN EX NEW DELHI 06:30 ALLAHABAD JN 15:10 Y N Y Y N Y N
15484 +MAHANANDA EXP DELHI 06:40 ALLAHABAD JN 17:55 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
14084 +MAHANANDA EXP #DELHI 06:40 ALLAHABAD JN 17:55 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
12506 +NORTH EAST EXP ANAND VIHAR TRM 06:50 ALLAHABAD JN 15:40 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
12324 +NDLS HWH EXPRES NEW DELHI 07:00 ALLAHABAD JN 16:35 N N N Y N N Y
13008 +U A TOOFAN EXP *NEW DELHI 07:35 ALLAHABAD JN 22:05 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
12488 +SEEMANCHAL EXP ANAND VIHAR TRM 07:40 ALLAHABAD JN 16:50 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
12398 +MAHABODHI EXP NEW DELHI 14:10 ALLAHABAD JN 22:40 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
14006 +LICHCHAVI EXP ANAND VIHAR TRM 15:50 ALLAHABAD JN 02:30 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
12382 +POORVA EXPRESS NEW DELHI 16:20 ALLAHABAD JN 02:20 Y Y N N Y N N
12304 +POORVA EXPRESS NEW DELHI 16:20 ALLAHABAD JN 02:05 N N Y Y N Y Y
02394 +ANVT PNBE SPL #ANAND VIHAR TRM 18:35 ALLAHABAD JN 03:45 N Y N N Y N Y
12560 +SHIV GANGA EXP NEW DELHI 18:55 ALLAHABAD JN 03:35 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
12874 +JHARKHAND EXP ANAND VIHAR TRM 19:50 ALLAHABAD JN 04:20 N Y Y N Y N N
12818 +JHARKHAND EXPRE ANAND VIHAR TRM 19:50 ALLAHABAD JN 04:20 Y N N Y N Y N
12402 +MAGADH EXPRESS NEW DELHI 20:10 ALLAHABAD JN 05:10 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
12562 +SWATANTRTA S EX NEW DELHI 20:40 ALLAHABAD JN 05:35 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
13112 +LAL QUILA EXP DELHI 20:50 ALLAHABAD JN 10:45 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
14218 +UNCHAHAR EXP *SUBZI MANDI 20:57 ALLAHABAD JN 11:20 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
12418 +PRAYAG RAJ EXP NEW DELHI 21:25 ALLAHABAD JN 06:45 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
12802 +PURSHOTTAM EXP NEW DELHI 22:20 ALLAHABAD JN 07:25 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
12276 +ALD DURONTO EXP NEW DELHI 22:40 ALLAHABAD JN 06:10 N N Y N Y N Y
14056 +BRAHMPUTRA MAIL DELHI 23:40 ALLAHABAD JN 08:25 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
12502 +PORVOTR S KRNTI NEW DELHI 23:45 ALLAHABAD JN 08:50 N N Y Y N N Y
12350 +NDLS BGP EXPRES NEW DELHI 23:45 ALLAHABAD JN 08:50 N Y N N N N N
12428 +NDLS REWA EXP NEW DELHI 23:55 ALLAHABAD JN 09:25 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

kumbh mela special train

The trains have around 600 (general quota) berths in sleeper class and 150 seats in third AC.  The total number of trains from north India that pass through New Delhi is 28.  Therefore total available seats in sleeper class are 16800 (approx.) and 4200(approx.) in Third AC.  In one day total passengers under the general quota will be (16800+4200) = 21000. Actual seats including all types of quotas are 12 X 72 X 28=24192 as most trains have 12 sleeper bogies. For Third AC, taking maximum 5 bogies per train, the berth count would be 5 X 72 X 28= 10000

During the last Kumbh Mela, the total visiting devotee count reached 70 million (70 X 10,00000) within a span of 30 days.  We can therefore compute the total capacity of each train assuming that there are four general bogies to be 4*100*28 (500 is capacity of one bogie)= 11500 approx. (taking lager values)

Hence, people who can travel from Delhi to Allahabad in a day are: 24500+ 11500+10000= 46000. This is current maximum capacity. But it can be estimated that during the peak Kumbh Mela season, this capacity will increase threefold per train raising the traveler count to 1,35,000. The situation is one of a kind and can only happen in a country like India.

What would you do if you were planning to attend the Kumbh Mela? Comment at the Kumbh Mela 2013 page.

Official website rates for Kumbh Mela 2013 accommodation

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Official Website Accommodation rates for kumbh mela 2013 from U.P. Government .

Many private websites are providing Swiss Cottage accommodation for the Kumbh festival but according to the officials there are no such websites providing this type of accommodation.

According to Additional Mela Officer Ashutosh Dwivedi, the matter came to light when certain people seeking to book Swiss-style cottages through unauthorized private websites approached the festival organizers.

There are no websites issued by the Government for allocating cottages to private agencies, Mr. Dwivedi said, adding that necessary information about the Mela is available on the official website of the Kumbh Mela.”

This is from The Hindu newspaper  http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/article3729838.ece  read more on this link.

this is from Time of India  http://m.timesofindia.com/city/lucknow/Fake-websites-selling-Kumbh-cottages/articleshow/16804727.cms

[box] Special Accommodation for Our Visitors. Get your Kumbh Mela accommodation with spiritual organizations or with tour providers at cheaper rates. For details contact us.[/box]

 

The official website for booking cottages is Uttar Pradesh Tourism.

It provides cheaper accommodation for kumbh mela 2013. The readers are suggested to not book accommodation for this festival from private websites which might be fraudulent.

kumbh mela accommodation

This above photo is from UP tourism website. The accommodation rates are cheaper than that provides by the other private websites. Most of the websites featuring in Google Search Results are personal websites launched by travel agents and their authenticity is highly dubious. The next post will feature complete rates and comparison with other private rates. People who are on a budget trip are recommended to stay in dormitories as they are a lot cheaper than the other housing options during the festival and would cost around $10 a day.

Recommended Kumbh Mela 2013 Accommodation in Allahabad

Importance of Mauni Amavasya snan (bathing ) at kumbh mela

Visit my facebook page for more information on  Kumbh Mela 2013

Prayag : An Ancient Holy City(Allahabad)

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Prayag : An Ancient Holy City(Allahabad)

Allahabad is also known as Prayag Raj. The name bears roots to an ancient legend which says that after the creation of the world, Lord Brahma offered the first sacrifice at Allahabad and hence the place came to be known as Prayag which is the place of sacrifice.  It is famous as it is the confluence (sangam) of the three most holy rivers in Indi: the Ganges, the Yamuna and the subterranean Saraswati. All three rivers hold a pious and divine status in India and it is believed that bathing in the water of the confluence will bring auspiciousness and fortune to the individual’s life.

City Of Kumbh Mela

Allahabad is renowned across the world as it hosts the magnificent Hindu festival called the Kumbh Mela. According to legend, it is believed that drops of nectar fell near the confluence point of the three holy rivers thereby giving them mystical powers. Millions of people gather at the river banks (ghats) to take a dip in the waters and purge themselves of all sins and thus attain Moksha (Salvation). The festival observes participation of people of all ages, religions, castes and creed in mutual harmony and equality. The festival is attended by Sadhus and saints who follow the path of religion. Some of the highlight saints of the festival are Naga Sadhus, who never wear any clothes and are always smeared in ash; Urdhwavahurs, saints who renounce physical pleasures; Parivajakas, who have taken a vow of silence and Shirshasins, who stand for all 24 hours and meditate.

The attendees of the Kumbh festival have the same common goal of finding the ultimate truth and thereby ending the mortal life of suffering and attaining salvation. Underlying the popular belief is the basic principle of Immortality accounted in the Vedic texts which claim that the supreme reality is not the material body but the eternal soul (Bhagvad Gita) which neither dies nor takes birth.

Allahabad is considered as King among holy places in India.

Allahabad Kumbh mela 2013 Bathing Dates

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if you here for Nashik Kumbh Mela Dates then Visit Kumbh Mela Dates page

kumbh mela allahabad 2013

The highlight feature of the Kumbh Mela is the bathing ceremony (snan). Millions of people travel across the globe to take a dip inthe Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati during the festival as it is believed by doing so one gets free from the baggage of sins committed in his lifetime and also attains salvation which is freedom from the cycle of birth and death. The Vedic Scriptures account for several other reasons to take bath in Holy Rivers like Ganges, Yamuna, Godawari and Narmada. The bathing ceremony is the most auspicious activity in this festival apart from the enlightenment one receives through spiritual discussions with the saints.

In Vedic culture, every river is personified as a deity and the water stream is interpreted as the material manifestation of that personality. Rivers are deified as mothers as they are a source for human existence. River Ganga is one of the most special rivers as it is believed to come directly from the ocean of milk by washing the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu. Bathing in the holy waters of Ganga is believed to be most auspicious at the time of Kumbh Mela.

Allahabad. Bathing at the time of Maha Kumbh also known as Shahi snan or Royal Bathing Days.

After 12  long years the grand event is again at the doorstep for people to grab the opportunity to witness the magnificent spectacle at Allahabad, the place of confluence of the three holy rivers,  in January, 2013.  The details about the most auspicious days during the festival on which devotees will take the holy dip in the waters of Ganges, Yamuna and the lost Saraswati are enlisted below:

[box] Shahi Snan starts at 6:00 Am [/box]

Maha Kumbh Mela 2013 Bathing (Shahi Snan) Dates

Bathing Dates Day Occasion Remark
14th January 2013 Sunday Makar Sankarnti First Shahi Snan
27th January 2013 Sunday Paush Purnima –
6th February 2013 Wednesday Ekadashi Snan –
10th February 2013 Sunday Mauni Amavasya Snan Main Bathing Day (Dark moon)
15th February 2013 Friday Basant Panchami Snan  Fifth day of the new moon (Last Shahi Snan )
17th February 2013 Sunday Rath Saptami Snan
18th February 2013 Monday Bhisma Ashtami Snan  Eigth day of the new moon
25th February 2013 Monday Maghi Purnima Snan
10th March 2013 Sunday Shivaratri Snan  Shivaratri is not a shahi snan

These are the dates when millions will come to take a holy dip at confluence of holy rivers at Allahabad. For further help please visit  Kumbh Mela 2013 Facebook page and post any queries about the festival.

 

 Kumbh Mela 2013 Accommodation in Allahabad

 

History of Maha Kumbh Mela (Festival)

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Story Behind Kumbh Mela

History: It is described that while Durvasa Muni was passing on the road, he saw Indra on the back of his elephant and was pleased to offer Indra a garland from his own neck. Indra, however, being too puffed up, took the garland, and without respect for Durvasa Muni, he placed it on the trunk of his carrier elephant. The elephant, being an animal, could not understand the value of the garland, and thus the elephant threw the garland between its legs and smashed it. Seeing this insulting behavior, Durvasa Muni immediately cursed Indra to be poverty-stricken, bereft of all material opulence. Thus the demigods, afflicted on one side by the fighting demons and on the other by the curse of Durvasa Muni, lost all the material opulence’s in the three worlds.

churning ocean

Lord Indra, Varuna and the other demigods, seeing their lives in such a state, consulted among themselves, but they could not find any solution. Then all the demigods assembled and went together to the peak of Sumeru Mountain. There, in the assembly of Lord Brahma, they fell down to offer Lord Brahma their obeisances, and then they informed him of all the incidents that had taken place.

Upon seeing that the demigods were bereft of all influence and strength and that the three worlds were consequently devoid of auspiciousness, and upon seeing that the demigods were in an awkward position whereas all the demons were flourishing, Lord Brahma, who is above all the demigods and who is most powerful, concentrated his mind on the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus being encouraged, he became bright-faced and spoke to the demigods as follows.

Lord Brahma said: I, Lord Siva, all of you demigods, the demons, the living entities born of perspiration, the living beings born of eggs, the trees and plants sprouting from the earth, and the living entities born from embryos—all come from the Supreme Lord, from His incarnation of rajo-guna [Lord Brahma, the guna-avatara] and from the great sages [rsis] who are part of me. Let us therefore go to the Supreme Lord and take shelter of His lotus feet.

For the Supreme Personality of Godhead there is no one to be killed, no one to be protected, no one to be neglected and no one to be worshiped. Nonetheless, for the sake of creation, maintenance and annihilation according to time, He accepts different forms as incarnations either in the mode of goodness, the mode of passion or the mode of ignorance.

after Lord Brahma finished speaking to the demigods, he took them with him to the abode of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, which is beyond this material world. The Lord’s abode is on an island called Svetadvipa, which is situated in the ocean of milk.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead directly and indirectly knows how everything, including the living force, mind and intelligence, is working under His control. He is the illuminator of everything and has no ignorance. He does not have a material body subject to the reactions of previous activities, and He is free from the ignorance of partiality and materialistic education. I therefore take shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord, who is eternal, all-pervading and as great as the sky and who appears with six opulence’s in three yugas [Satya, Tretä and Dväpara].

When offered prayers by Lord Siva and Lord Brahms, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Visu was pleased. Thus He gave appropriate instructions to all the demigods. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is known as Ajita, unconquerable, advised the demigods to make a peace proposal to the demons, so that after formulating a truce, the demigods and demons could churn the ocean of milk. The rope would be the biggest serpent, known as Vasuki, and the churning rod would be Mandara Mountain. Poison would also be produced from the churning, but it would be taken by Lord Siva, and so there would be no need to fear it. Many other attractive things would be generated by the churning, but the Lord warned the demigods not to be captivated by such things. Nor should the demigods be angry if there were some disturbances. After advising the demigods in this way, the Lord disappeared from the scene.

One of the item come from the churning of ocean of milk  was nectar which will give strength to demigods. For twelve days and twelve nights (equivalent to twelve human years) the gods and demons fought in the sky for possession of this pot of Amrita. From this nectar some drops spills at Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik while they were fighting for nectar . So on earth we celebrate this festival to get the pious credits and meet the purpose of life that is going to back to godhead  our eternal home where our father is waiting for us. This is opportunity we get after associating with saints or holy man who follow scriptures.

Kumbh mela provides us this great opportunity to purify our soul by bathing in holy river and serving saints.

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