Kumbh Mela 2013
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Kumbh Mela 2013 Dates
Kumbh Mela 2013 Accommodation in Allahabad
I have taken these pics on 8th and 9th Feb at various places in kumbh mela. Soon I will upload photos taken on 10th Feb which was the main bathing day.
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These photos are send by one of our Facebook Page fan HT Park.
Here are recent photos shot using RC planes by our friend Gaurav during kumbh mela 2013. You can visit his website http://www.flyingcameraproductions.com Flying Camera Production for covering kumbh mela you can get more photos from his website.
AMRIT NECTAR OF IMMORTALITY is a documentary which was shot at the time of the biggest pilgrim festival of the world — the Kumbh Mela — in Haridwar (north India). The film tells the stories of people and their connection with the holy river Ganges. Pilgrims, ascetics, yogis, western emigrants, scientists and environment activists report from their life on the holy river, their belief, the future of the Ganga and the importance of Amrit — the nectar of immortality. But what is Amrit? Is it a mysterious drank? The holy water of Ganges? Or rather an inner way to the immortality of the soul? The film is a journey in search of answers to these questions, a journey in a strange world, in search of the nectar of immortality.
More info at http://amritfilm.net
and http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amrit-Nectar-of-Immortality/274445935923655
if You like this documentary than please leave your comments
Kumbh Mela Map. Main bathing area is in sector 3 where all sadhus will take bath.
This map has parking area for all types of motor vehicles.
Visit Kumbh Mela Map on Google Maps
Here is list of participating akharas. This is official list published by kumbh mela administration.
| Sampradaya | Name Of Akharas | Adrress of Akharas |
|---|---|---|
| Saivas Sanyasi Akhada | Shri Panchayati Akhada Mahanirvani | DaraGanj Prayag Allahabad |
| Shri Panch Atal Akhada | Chaak Hanuman KatuhaPura Kasi Varanasi | |
| Shri Panchayati Akhada Niranjani | 47/44 Mori Daraganj Prayag | |
| Taponidhi Shri Anand Akhada Panchayati | Swami Sagaranad Asharm Trikamsevar Nashik | |
| Shri Panchadashnam Juna Akhada | Bada Hanuman Ghat kasi,Varanasi | |
| Shri Panchadashnam Ahvan Akhada | D 17/122 Dashasmeva ghat kasi,Varanasi | |
| Shri Panchadashnam PanchaAgni Akhada | Talhati Girinagar po Bhavnath junagar(GJ) | |
| Vairagi Vaishnava Akhadas | Shri Digambarani Akhada | Samalaji Khaka chauka mandir Sambar Kantha GJ |
| Shri Nirvani Akhada | Shri Ahyodhya ji Hanuman Gadi Faizabad | |
| Shri Nimrohiani Akhada | Shri Nimrohiani Akhada Dhir Samir mandir vanshivat virndavan |
|
| Udasin Sampradaya Akhadas | Shri Panchayati Bada Udasin Akhada | Krishna Nagar Kiidganj Allahabad, |
| Shri Panchayati Akhada Naya Udasin | Kankhal Haridwar | |
| Shri Nirmal Panchayati Akhada | Sita ghat road kankhal haridwar |
Makar Sankranti is one of the most sacred festivals and is celebrated in almost all parts of the country in myriad cultural forms, great devotion, fervor and gaiety. The time from sunrise to sunset on Makar-Sankranti is very auspicious. A Holy bath during this period carries special significance. Those who take a holy bath in the rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri acquire pious credits .
The day occurs when the moon is full in the Hindu month of Paush. This is the last full moon of winter. By this time, the sadhu and hundreds of thousands of pilgrims arrive at the Kumbh Mela. By the day, more pilgrims come to attend the festival in buses, trains and on foot. Each day from now on the population of Kumbhnagari (Kumbh City) doubles.
This day is also referred to as the “New Moon of the Saints.” For the holy men and women, this is the main bathing day. New members to various holy monastic orders receive their first initiation on this day. More than fifty million people bathe in the holy waters during the Mauni Amavasya.
This is the fifth day of the luminous half of the lunar month and is the beginning of spring in North India. Traditionally people wear yellow on this day. It is the day when people pray to the gods for a good bumper harvest.
Ratha Saptami is a highly auspicious occasion dedicated to Lord Surya, the Sun God in Hinduism. Lord Surya, depicted riding a chariot driven by seven horses, is worshipped on this day. Rath Saptami festival is observed on the seventh day of Shukla Paksha in the Magh Month (January – February) in the traditional Hindu calendar.
The Vishnu Sahasranama Stothram (thousand names dedicated to Lord Vishnu) was revealed to the Pandavas on this day by Bhishma when the latter was lying in a bed of arrows after the great war of Mahabharata. On this day, Bhishma Pithamaha, the oldest, wisest, most powerful and most righteous person belonging to the Kuru dynasty (approx. over 5000 years ago), narrated the greatness of Lord Krishna through Sri Vishnu Sahasranama to Yudhishtira, the oldest brother of Pandavas.
A huge temporary city is created at the site of the festival for the millions of pilgrims that arrive for the most auspicious bathing days. Kumbh Mela is like a Yogi Convention, where yogis, sadhus (saints), holy people and pilgrims come from all over India. Many sadhus come from various holy places, remote forests and mountain caves in the Himalayas. The most famous of them are the Naga Babas, who are completely naked. Their bodies are smeared in ash and they wear their hair in deadlocks.
It is said that if a person bathes at the confluence (Sangam) of the Ganges, Yamuna and the subterranean Saraswati on one of the main bathing days during Kumbh Mela, he or she attains liberation. The Vishnu Purana says that one gets greater benefit by bathing during this festival than by performing 1,000 Ashwamedha Yajnas (horse sacrifices) or by circumambulating the earth 100,000 times. It is believed that by bathing at Maha Kumbh, a person is free of all his sins and 88 generations of his or her ancestors are benefited.
The main bathing days are known as ‘Shahi Snan’ or Royal Bathing Days. The main bathing day, which witnesses maximum participation, is on the Mauni Amavasya day (the dark moon). The next main day or the next Shahi Snan is said to be on Vasant Panchami (fifth day of the new moon). Another significant day is on the Bishma Ashtami which is the eighth day of the new moon. For further details please visit Kumbh Mela 2013.
Since 2001, India’s space agency Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is taking satellite pictures of the Kumbh festival. ISRO is using remote sensing satellites for taking pictures of the Maha Kumbh.
Haridwar Before Kumbh Mela 2010
Satellite Image of Kumbh Mela 2010
It is clear that in the first image there is nothing on the banks of Ganga while in second image a city of tents and temporary houses is clearly visible.
You can see similar view at Allahabad’s Kumbh Mela 2013
An Akhara is a wrestling arena. It is an organization of the different sects of saints, Vairaghis, and yogis who have renounced the world. The history of an Akhara dates back to the circa 2500 BC when Adi Shankaracharya established seven Akharas (perhaps 10 as they are also known as Dasnaami), Mahanirvani, Niranjani, Atal, Avahan, Agni and Anand Akhara.
Akhadas came into existence during the 8th century AD when Adi Shankaracharya established seven Akhadas namely Mahanirvani, Niranjani, Juna, Atal, Avahan, Agni and Anand Akhara with an aim to strengthen the Hindu religion and unite those practicing different rituals, customs and beliefs.
At present, there are 3 major Akharas: Sanyasi, Bairagi and Nirmal and 3 minor Akharas (Atal affiliated with Mahanirvani, Anand affiliated with Niranjani and Avahan affiliated with Juna). Furthermore there is one small Brahmachari Akhara named Agni, affiliated to Juna.
Akharas are divided into different camps according to the concept of God they worship. Shaiva Akharas are for followers of Lord Shiva, Vaishnava or Vairagi Akhara are for followers of Lord Vishnu and Kalpwasis are for followers of Lord Brahma
An Akhara is further divided into 8 davas (divisions) and 52 marhis (centers). Each Marhi performs its spiritual activities under a Mahant. The central administrative body of the Akhara is Shree Panch (the body of five), representing Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva. Shaktiand and Ganesha.
The five-member body governing an Akhada is elected during every Kumbh Mela for a period of 4 years.
The biggest Akhara – computed by the number of the Saints in it – is Juna, then Niranjani and then Mahanirvani. The head of an Akhara is regarded as Acharya Mahamandaleshwar, followed by other Mahamandaleshwaras, Mandaleshwaras and Shree Mahants.
On the main bathing dates, a colorful and magnificent procession of radiant saints sitting on chariots and elephants is witnessed by thousands of Kumbh visitors. These sadhus, belonging to various camps take a dip in the holy Ganges first and only then the ordinary pilgrims are allowed to take bath in the river.
During the Kumbh Mela, the ceremonial procession of the Naga Sanyasis believed to be an auspicious sight has all the trappings of royalty. The Mahant is seated on a silver throne placed upon a caparisoned elephant. Around him are hundreds of Naga ascetics on foot, wielding lances, their naked bodies smeared with ash. Camels and Horses are also part of this procession which signifies the old Hindu organization of the Chaturanga sena, or four-limbed army, moving towards the holy waters of the Ganges.However, Mahanirvani Akhara is one of the most important of all and it is normally the first to take the ‘Shahi Snan’. Their praveshai (entry) and subsequent bath in the Holy Ganga officially marks the beginning of the Maha Kumbh.
During the ‘Shahi Snan’ thousands of devotees assemble near the road sides to get a glimpse of the procession of ascetics parading amidst tight security as they make their way to the Ghats.
Naga Sadhus at Kumbh Mela