This years Kumbh Mela – which is a “Maha” Kumbh being a one in 144 year event – started on 14th January and will continue for 55 days. So far there have been 3 fires of significance in the various tent cities that have sprung up to cater for the 100 million visitors expected and some 20 people have been injured. Remarkably, considering the sheer volume of people, there have not been many other serious incidents or any fatalities attributable to the crowds.
(Update! 11th February
It is reported that 36 people – mainly women and children – died in a crush at the railway station on Sunday)
The Kumbh Mela web site tries to explain the fervor (but I don’t share the fervor and am not much the wiser):
The highlight for most pilgrims during a Kumbhmela festival is the observance of a holy bath at the sangam. A holy bath in either of a sacred river has purifying effects, but where the three rivers meet, the purification is said to increase one hundred times. It is further believed that when one takes a sacred bathe at the sangam during the Kumbhmela the potency of the holy water increased one thousand times. For this reason Indians believes that the Kumbhmela is the most auspicious place in the universe to take a holy bath. Armed with this faith pilgrims attend the Kumbhmela and bathe in the Ganges in a mood of solemn reverence.
Today is Mauni Amavasya and is apparently a particularly auspicious day for these rituals. The Times of India also tries to explain the significance of the day – but their language is rather cryptic:
Astrologers believe that it’s a rare position when Sun and Moon enter and the zodiac sign of Capricorn, because of the transit, on this day. This day is also celebrated as the birthday of Manu Rishi. While Capricorn sign has the yoga of Sun and Moon which increases the significance of this Amawasya, taking a holy dip in Sangam will be giving virtues to an individual, on this day.
A Kalpavasi
In Hindu mythology Mauna (silence) comes from Muni an ascetic who practised total silence in an effort to achieve a state of oneness with the self. It is therefore supposed to be a day of calmness, of silence and for the stilling of restless minds. It ought to be a day of meditation and contemplation and pilgrims are not supposed to talk to each other. Mauni Amavasya occurs annually on the 15th day of the dark fortnight of Magh (January-February) when both the Sun and the Moon are in Capricorn. It has a special relationship with the Kumbh Mela at Allahabad, being one of its major bathing days. This is reinforced in the annual Magha Mela of the Kalpavasis which views bathing on this day as extremely rewarding.
But I expect there may be some frayed tempers today when 30 million try to wash their sins away.
In any event some 30 million visitors are expected today and some 18,000 security personnel have been deployed. The Parliament House attacker Afzal Guru was executed yesterday in Delhi’s Tihar jail and there are some fears of a reaction
Tags: Afzal Guru, Allahabad, Amavasya, Kumbhmela, Manu Rishi, Mauni Amvasya
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