On July 14, Kumbh Mela started at Nasik. Millions of Hindu pilgrims from all over India and world gathers to take a dip in sacred Ram Kunda in Nasik. To provide the facilities and security, authorities in Nasik are on full alert and additional troops have been deployed in the area. Millions of pilgrims and tourist have flocked in to celebrate the one of the biggest pilgrimage in Hindu calendar. 100 Million people participated in last Kumbh at Allahabad. According to Hindu Beliefs, drops of nectar fell from the Kumbh carried by gods after the sea was churned. Bathing in these rivers is thought to cleanse a person of all sins.
It is held every three years in each of the four different locations – Allahabad, Haridwar, Nasik and Ujjain, returning to each of the four places after a gap of every twelve years. Besides the regular Kumbh Mela, an Ardh (half) Kumbh Mela takes place six years after the Maha Kumbh in each of the location. And how it lands up in each location varies according to what position the Sun, Moon, and Jupiter hold in that period in different zodiac signs.
It comes to Haridwar when Jupiter is in Aquarius and Sun is in Aries during the Hindu month of Chaitra i.e. in the month of March-April. In Allahabad it is celebrated in the month of January-February when Jupiter is in Aries or Taurus and Sun and Moon are in Capricorn during the Hindu month of Magha. In the Hindu month of Bhadraprada (August-September), when Sun and Jupiter are in Leo, Kumbh Mela comes to Nasik. And Ujjain gets to organize it when Jupiter is in Leo and Sun is in Aries, or when all three are in Libra during the Hindu month of Vaisakha i.e. April-May. Below is a comprehensive list of Kumbh Mela dates with the names of the host cities.
With feed from : http://www.kumbhamela.net/
