03rd December 2024 (9 Topics)
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Maha Kumbh Mela
Context
The Uttar Pradesh government has declared the Maha Kumbh area a new district ahead of the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela. The district will be known as Maha Kumbh Mela district, marking preparations for one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.
What is Maha Kumbh Mela?
- The Maha Kumbh Mela is a major Hindu religious festival held once every 12 years.
- It is the world’s largest public gathering, attracting millions of pilgrims, including ascetics, saints, pilgrims, and other devotees, from across India and the world.
- The festival is centered around bathing at sacred rivers, which is believed to cleanse sins and bring spiritual benefits.
- Locations of the Kumbh Mela: The Kumbh Mela is celebrated at four locations in India, rotating every 12 years. These locations are:
- Haridwar (Uttarakhand) – on the banks of the Ganges
- Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh) – on the banks of the Shipra river
- Nashik (Maharashtra) – on the banks of the Godavari river
- Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) – at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Sarasvati river (which is invisible)
- The festival at each location is based on specific astrological positions of the Sun, Moon, and Jupiter, and occurs at a particular moment when these planets align in a way considered holy in Hinduism.
- Historical Significance
- The origins of the Kumbh Mela can be traced back to ancient times.
- It is mentioned in texts dating back to the Maurya and Gupta periods (4th century BCE to 6th century CE).
- Over the centuries, the Mela grew in size and significance.
- Rulers, including the Guptas, supported the festival, and during the medieval period, various dynasties like the Cholas, Vijayanagar, Delhi Sultanate, and Mughals patronized it.
- Even Emperor Akbar participated in the Mela, emphasizing unity among different religious and cultural communities.
- Modern Relevance
- After India’s independence, the Kumbh Mela became a symbol of national unity and the country’s cultural heritage.
- It was recognized by UNESCO in 2017 as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, further cementing its importance.
- The Maha Kumbh Mela will be held in January 2025 in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
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