Kumbh Mela Haridwar 2021: When, Where, Bathing Dates, Naga Sadhus

India is a country of religious importance. Kumbh Mela is one of the events that have spiritual importance. Nationwide, Kumbh is also considered one of the biggest Hindu events. It is an attraction for millions of Hindu pilgrims from all over the country.

The ritual gathering is also attended by believers from all over the globe. The gathering is based on Hindu belief. It has also been rated by UNESCO as an event of humanity’s importance.

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Where is Kumbh Mela held in India?

The biggest gathering of the Kumbh Mela is organized in four different selected destinations on a rotational basis. The four places where the Mela is organized include:

Banks of Godavari river in Maharashtra (Nashik).
Banks of Ujjain Shipra river in UP.
The banks of the Ganges river in Uttarakhand (Haridwar)
The Prayag and Allahabad are on the banks of the Saraswati river (UP).

The Mela is organized on a rotational basis, once in each place mentioned above.

When is the next Kumbh Mela in India?

The Kumbh Mela is organized once in any place in a time of twelve years. The grand event is organized once every three years. Expert Hindu pilgrims calculate the exact time and dateline every three years to organize this event.

The bigger grand Kumbh Mela is also organized once every twelve years. The Ardh Kumbh Mela is an event that is organized every six years. Allahabad also hosts Maagh Mela during January and February months. The event is organized in a gap of six years in Allahabad.

The bigger event (Maha Kumbh) is an event that is of more importance to Hindu pilgrims. The event takes place in Haridwar and Allahabad on the confluence of the three rivers.

Details of Upcoming Kumbh Mela

The upcoming Kumbh Mela will be held at the Haridwar. The Mela will be organized between 06th January to 18th Feb’23. The event is also important because this Mela is being held after over eleven years. This time the event is not organized after twelve years.

It is also important because the event is being held in the eleventh year after about eighty years. The next date for Maha Kumbh Mela is expected to be in 2025 the event will be held in Allahabad. The next Kumbh Mela after 2025 will be held in 2027 in Nashik.

Important Kumbh Mela dates for a sacred bath

14th January on Makar Sankranti.
11th February on Mauni Amavasya.
16th February on the occasion of Basant Panchami.
27th February on the event of Maghi Poornima event.
11th March on Maha Shivratri event.
12th April on the Somwati Amavasya.
14th April on the day of the Baisakhi.
27th April on the occasion of Chaitra Purnima.

The dates between 11th March to 27th April are also the first, second, third, and fourth Shahi Snan. Anyone who wants to attend the Mela can follow the guidelines mentioned above.

Kumbh Mela and the legend of Kumbh

As per Hindu traditions, Kumbh is a word that stands for Pot. The word Mela in English means festival. So Kumbh Mela is termed the pot festival. In the Hindu religion, it refers to the Nectar pot. It is believed that the nectar pot was obtained by the Hindu Gods who had lost their faith in strength.

Gods wanted to regain back their lost strength, so they agreed with the Demons. As per the agreement, both Gods and Demons would be churning the pot of nectar from the Ocean of the Amrit (milk).

This derived nectar would be the Amrit (nectar that will offer the bearer the blessing of being immortal). It was also agreed that the pot of nectar would be shared by both Gods and demons alike.

During the extraction phase, there was a disagreement between the Demons and the Gods. The fight had continued for twelve years. The period till when the fight was on, Garuda (a holy bird) had flown away with the nectar pot.

When this happened, a few drops of the nectar from the pot had fallen back to the land. These were the places where the Kumbh Mela is held. These places included Prayag, Ujjain, Nashik, and Haridwar.

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Kumbh Mela and The Sadhus

In Hindu mythology, Sadu is a person who has achieved eternal life. He is the holy spirit and is the one who attends the Kumbh Mela every time it is held. The Sadhus are also believed to be God’s best men. They are the pilgrims and representatives of the almighty.

It is believed that the Mela is attended by Sadhus who belong to one of the thirteen organizations (Akharas). The organizations are subdivided as per their beliefs and worshipping methods. Of the thirteen organizations, over seven of them are strict followers of Lord Shiva (Shaivism).

Three of the remaining organizations are followers of Lord Vishnu (Vaishnavism) while the remaining three are followers of Guru Nanak (Shri Chand).

Famous Sadhu groups of the Kumbh Mela:

There are presently a few Sadhu groups that attend the Kumbh Mela. Some of the well-known groups of Sadhus are mentioned below.

1. Naga Sadhus

Naga is a word that stands for naked. These groups of Sadhu’s smear ash to the entire body. They maintain long hair and withstand all types of weather conditions. They are resistant to any climatic condition. The group of Sadhus is consistently under the effect of Marijuana (Weed). The Sadhu group belongs to the Varanasi part of the country.

2. Urdhwavahurs

These are the groups of Sadhus who have emaciated themselves after hard spiritual practices.

3. Parivajakas

These are the Sadhu groups who maintain Moan Varth (Silence). They do not speak or talk with anyone.

4. Shrishasinse

These groups of sadhus always maintain their standing posture. They even sleep in the same standing posture by leaning towards the erect pole. This is the way the Sadhus follow when meditating.

5. Kalpvasis

These are the Sadhus who spend most of their lifetime meditating by the river banks. They perform all types of religious rituals and have a bath in the sacred river many times during the day.

The Sadhus from each of the Akhara (organization) will attend the Kumbh Mela every time it is held. They camp at the Mela site and perform rituals as per Hindu Mythology.

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Ritual types performed by Sadhus at the Kumbh Mela

The Mela is famous for its sacred bath. As per the Hindu belief, having a bath in the sacred river during the Kumbh will wash away their bad deeds. The bath is mainly organized when it is full moon during the Kumbh month.

So, if there are any sins committed by them or their ancestors, then the sacred bath will wash them away. This is important so the next rebirth will always be more blessed by God. This is also one of the main parts of the birth and death cycle.

The process of having the holy bath begins around 3 am at any Kumbh Mela event. All Sadhus will be a part of the ritual bath. By sunrise, the Sadhus will align by the river bank as per the place in the organization. The bath is first on the right of the Naga sadhus.

The entire moment of watching the Naga Sadhus having a bath is magical. Once the event of sacred bath is done, the Sadhus get dressed in new clothes. Only after the bathing ceremony, will the Sadhus begin by offering prayer sessions in the temple.

How can you be a part of the Kumbh Mela event?

If you are a tourist, then Kumbh Mela is one of the events you should never miss. If you are in the country during this time, then you should try and be a part of this grand event. Millions of people attend the Kumbh Mela from different parts of the country.

Especial arrangements are made for any traveler or tourist who wants to attend this grand event. You can make your arrangements at the tourist campsite nearby to the sacred river. Some hotels provide luxurious stays for travelers.

You can also hire a local guide if you are interested in attending the Mela on your own. The place is well maintained and security during this time is always on high alert. The dates for the Mela are always announced before time.

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