The Kumbh Mela

SitaParityaga

I have been doing some research on when and where the next Mela will be.

For you Mela experts out there, is it really possible there will be two Melas in 2007?

There is alot of conflicting information on the net, but a poll of numerous sites seems to indicate there will be two in 2007.

"In 2007 Maha Kumbh Mela will be held at Nashik in Maharastra.

An Ardh (half) Kumbh Mela (festival) at Allahabad in 2007."

Anyone know the dates of these Melas? Is it true there will be two?

SHIMLA

The Maha Kumbh Mela returns to one city after 12 years. Nashik had one last year(or in 2004, I do not remember). Thus, how can it have one again in 2007 ??

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SitaParityaga

There you have it! Its confusing, isn't it?

May-be we should start here....did anyone go to the last Mela in Nashik?

And what about the Ardh Mela, anyone ever go to that in Allahabad?

lotus blossom

The Maha Kumbh Mela ("great festival of the pot of nectar of immortality") is held every three years in each of four different locations, returning to each of four places every twelve years. An Ardh (half) Mela (festival) takes place six years after the Maha Kumbh in each location.

Kumbh Mela is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage and bathing festival that takes place at the following 4 locations of India:

Prayag (near the city of Allahabad, in the state of Uttar Pradesh) at the confluence of three rivers Ganga (Ganges), Yamuna and Saraswati
Haridwar (in the state of Uttaranchal Pradesh) where the river Ganga enters the plains from Himalayas.
Ujjain (in Madhya Pradesh), on the banks of Ksipra river.
Nasik (in Maharashtra) on the banks of Godavari river.
Dates for the Maha Kumbh Festival
(every 12 years in 4 locations)

The next Ardh (half) Mela (festival) will be held January 2007 at Allahabad.
In 2007 Maha Kumbh Mela will be held at Nashik in Maharastra.
In 2010 Maha Kumbh Mela will be held at Haridwar in the foothills of the Himalayas.
In 2013 Maha Kumbh Mela will be held January in Allahabad (Prayag)

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SitaParityaga

Thanks LB....I think you found one of the same sites I went to. It just doesn't seem right there would be two in the same year, but who knows?

See how this site listed two Melas in 2007?

And here's another Mela question. I thought the Maha Kumbh Mela was every 12 years and was only in Allahabad. The other Melas rotate between Hardiwar, Ujain and Nashik every three years.

sadhuji

i think the reference is to the following link-

http://divinerevelation.org/KumbhMela.html

there does appear to be some confusion. i stay in nashik and the last mela was held in 2003, the next one is scheduled for 2015. needs clarification.

i have sent them the following mail -

'..... sirs,

reference is made to information contained in your website http://divinerevelation.org/KumbhMela.html

i stay in nashik and know that kumbh mela is held here every 12 years. the last one was in 2003. how can the next one be in 2007? please clarify and incorporate necessary corrections in your page. there is a lot of confusioion on this matter in the minds of persons from foreign locations.

regards

prabir ghose ....'

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SitaParityaga

Thanks, Sadhuji. Its important to ask the right person! The internet is often filled with so much misinformation. Glad to hear you wrote them as well.

I even found several "tour" sites offering their services to bring people to the 2007 Kumbh Mela in Nashik!

http://www.spirit-of-india.com/group...ela/index.html

These tour operators have an office in Mill Valley, California. This is a few miles from my home town. May-be I'll give them a call!

There seems to be some consistency about the dates of the next Mela in Allahabad: Jan - Feb. '07. If this too is misinformation, please speak up!

Anyone planning on going to the Ardh Mela in Allahabad? I was in Allahabad 20 years ago, I'm sure much has changed. Anyone been there recently?

aterciopelada

From what I understand, the Kumbh Mela and the Ardh Kumb Mela are both on 3-year cycles. Every 3 years, one of 4 cities hosts the Kumbh Mela (so that each city hosts the Kumbh Mela once every 12 years), and that same city hosts the Ardh Mela 6 years later. Thus, every year that there's a Kumbh Mela, there's also an Ardh Kumbh Mela.

Allahabad held the Kumbh Mela in 2001, so it will host the Ardh Kumbh Mela in 2007. And Nashik will supposedly hold the Kumbh Mela in 2007. So, yes, two Kumbh Melas happen in the same year.

What I don't get, as described above, is how Nashik can be holding the Kumbh Mela in 2007 when it hosted in 2003. Even more puzzling is that if the 3-year cycle thing is true, 2003 shouldn't have been a Mela year -- it should have been 2004!

thaneb

Hi,
Isn't there a rather controversial Kumbh Mehla taking place in the Dangs District of Gujarat this week? I am also confused.

SitaParityaga

Sadhuji, who lives in Nashik, was kind enough to clarify the confusion around a 2007 Mela there. Thank God we have active Indian IMers who help us with the truth around what is really going on there!

It IS terribly confusing though, aterciopelada, look at the following post by thaneb. A Mela in Gujarat this week?

I will push on with the (very) early, planning stages of going to the Allahabad Mela next year. It helps with the frustration I feel over not getting to go to India this winter.

Currently I'm exploring either going to Allahabad or Chennai (or both!) next year. I guess there's alot of time to see how things develop.

Has anyone been to Allahabad recently?

Lotus-Flower

Hardwar.........when Jupiter is in Aquarius and the Sun is in Aries during the Hindu month of Caitra (March-April); 1986, 1998, 2010, 2021.

Allahabad.......when Jupiter is in Aries or Taurus and the Sun and Moon are in Capricorn during the Hindu month of Magha (January-February); 1989, 2001, 2012, 2024.

Nasik..............when Jupiter and the Sun are in Leo in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada (August-September); 1980, 1992, 2003, 2015.

Ujjain..............when Jupiter is in Leo and the Sun is in Aries, or when Jupiter, the Sun, and the Moon are in Libra during the Hindu month of Vaisakha (April-May); 1980,1992, 2004, 2016.

aterciopelada

Ah! So it looks like each of the four cities holds a Kumbh Mela every 12 years, but they are not held at regular 3-year intervals (ie, Nasik in 2003 and Ujain in 2004).

edsita, my husband and I are leaving for a 2.5-month trip to India on Wednesday, and we plan to stop in Allahabad. I'll let you know how it is!

jivan

Yup there was, it was a tribal mela. I read/saw something about it in the media. It's one of the greatest shows on earth where u see the whole vibrancy of the hindu culture as well as the yogis/bhogis all in the same place. It's the meeting of the weird as well as the wonderful. All kinds of show of strength/politics in general a melting pot of things happen. A nice place to be in but only if u know the hindu hierachy a bit & then can see the kind of fun which happens there.

SHIMLA

Even now there's a confusion. Haridwar, Allahabad and Nashik have each had/will be having a Kumbh after 11 years, instead of 12, whereas Ujjain seems to be following the 12 year rule correctly !

jivan

Shimla it's nice we still have confusions about something, keeps us occupied