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Kumbh
Mela: (March)
The
Kumbh Mela takes place every March. Once at each location by
rotationHowever, the major Kumbh Mela occurs once in 12 years.
Legend
has it that Lord Vishnu saved the elixir (Amrut) from the demons
and gave it to the vassal gods, called Devas, in a pot. The Devas
rested the pot at each of the four cities of Allahabad, Haridwar,
Ujjain, and Nasik. This is the reason why this festival is
celebrated only
at
these four places.
The
festival is rotated between the designated four holy places of
Hindus. The Kumbh Mela is the greatest riverside religious
festival of Hindus that takes place at the same location after a
gap of every three years. It attracts millions of devotees and
visitors from all backgrounds. Scores of ash-covered holy men and
sages known as rishis and sadhus, in all hapes and sizes, flock to
the centre of the Mela.
The
Sangam at Allahabad is the holiest as three rivers - Ganga, Yamuna
and Saraswati converge there. Thousands of devotees take a holy
dip in the river that is believed to purge them of their sin.
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