Spiritual Destination: Kumbha Mela 2010 in Haridwar, India

November 1, 2:19 PMHolistic Travel ExaminerGina Alzate

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Sadhu in Haridwar, India
Wikipedia

Kumbha Mela is the largest religious gathering in the world. It is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage that takes place at the following four locations in India:

1. Prayag also known as Allahabad in the state of Uttar Pradesh at the confluence of three holy rivers - Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati.
2. Haridwar in Uttar Pradesh where the Ganges River enters the plains from the Himalayas
3. Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh on the banks of Shipra River.
4. Nasik in Maharashtra on the banks of Godavari River.

The pilgrimage occurs four times every twelve years, once at each of the four locations. Each twelve-year cycle includes the Maha (great) Kumbha Mela at Prayag, attended by millions of people, making it the largest pilgrimage gathering around the world.

Millions of people gather to take a holy dip in the sacred waters during the Ardha Kumbha and Maha Kumbha festivals. It is believed that a holy dip in sacred rivers during Maha Kumbh or Ardh Kumbh allows humans to attain Moksha which is the liberation from samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth or reincarnation and all of the suffering and limitation of worldly existence. Devotees, saints/sadhus turn up in great number from all over the world to take a dip in the holy waters of rivers, primarily the Ganges River.

Haridwar, the site for the Kumbha Mela of 2010, is one of the holiest cities in India, believed to be blessed by Hindu Trinity - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. From January 2010 to April 2010, Haridwar expects millions of devotees to take a holy dip on the special bathing dates at the first site where the Ganges River enters the plains from the Himalayas. Haridwar also serves as the site to one of the holiest bathing ghats in India, known as Har Ki Pauri.

Bathing (Snan) Dates for Haridwar Maha Kumbh 2010

14 January 2010 - Makar Sankranti Snan - First Snan
15 January 2010 - Mauni Amavasya and Surya Grahan (solar eclipse) - Second Snan
20 January 2010 - Basant Panchmi Snan - Third Snan
30 January 2010 - Magh Purnima Snan - Fourth Snan
12 February 2010 - Maha Shivratri - Pratham Shahi Snan - First Royal Bath
15 March 2010 - Somvati Amavasya - Dvitya Shahi Snan - Second Royal Bath
24 March 2010 - Ram Navmi - Fifth Snan
30 March 2010 - Chaitra Purnima Snan
14 April 2010 - Baisakhi - Pramukh Shahi Snan - Main Royal Bath
28 April 2010 - Shakh Purnima - Snan 

Kumbh Mela 2007 with Paramahamsa Nithyananda, Enlightened Master and Modern Mystic 

The Lessons of Kumbha Mela

By Gina Alzate, who is also the National Interracial Relationship Examiner and the Philadelphia Romance Examiner. She is a Travel Consultant and a Cruise Planner with World Tours and Cruises, and she leads Angel Communication workshops with Holistic Life Designs.

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