Kumbh Mela

Kumbh Mela is a major pilgrimage and festival in Hinduism. It is celebrated in a cycle of approximately 12 years, to celebrate every revolution Brihaspati (Jupiter) completes, at four river-bank pilgrimage sites:

• Prayagraj (Ganges-Yamuna-Sarasvati rivers confluence)
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  Prayagraj Kumbh Mela in Bharat
• Haridwar (Ganges)
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  Haridwar Kumbh Mela in Bharat
• Nashik (Godavari)
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  Nashik Kumbh Mela in Bharat
• Ujjain (Shipra)
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  Ujjain Kumbh Mela in India

The festival is marked by a ritual dip in the waters, but it is also a celebration of community commerce with numerous fairs, education, religious discourses by saints, mass gatherings of monks, and entertainment.

The Kumbh Mela are classified as:

• The Purna Kumbh Mela (sometimes just called Kumbh or "full Kumbha"), occurs every 12 years at a given site.
• The Ardh Kumbh Mela ("half Kumbh") occurs approximately every 6 years between the two Purna Kumbha Melas at Prayagraj and Haridwar.
• The Maha Kumbh, which occurs every 12 Purna Kumbh Melas i.e. after every 144 years.

The next Purna Kumbh Mela will be held in Haridwar in 2025. The next Ardh Kumbh Mela will be held in Prayagraj in 2024.

The Kumbh Mela is a massive undertaking, requiring the coordination of millions of people. The government provides security and logistical support, while volunteers from all over Bharat help to set up the infrastructure and provide services to the pilgrims.

The Kumbh Mela is a unique and fascinating event that is a testament to the power of faith and the resilience of the human spirit. It is a truly global event, attracting pilgrims from all over the world.

Here are some interesting facts about the Kumbh Mela:

• It is the largest peaceful gathering of people in the world.
• The largest Kumbh Mela ever recorded was held in Nashik in 2013, with an estimated 120 million pilgrims.
• The Kumbh Mela is a major economic event, generating billions of dollars in revenue.
• It is also a major cultural event, with music, dance, and other performances taking place throughout the festival.
• The Kumbh Mela is a time for spiritual renewal and introspection, as well as a chance to connect with other Hindus from all over the world.

If you are ever in Bharat during the Kumbh Mela, I encourage you to experience this amazing event for yourself. It is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Sabarimala Festival

The Sabarimala Festival is a Hindu pilgrimage and festival celebrated annually in the month of November-January at the Sabarimala temple in Kerala, Bharat. The festival is dedicated to Lord Ayyappan, a Hindu deity who is believed to be the son of Shiva and Mohini.

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Sabarimala Temple, Kerala

The Sabarimala temple is located in the Western Ghats at an altitude of about 1,800 meters (5,900 feet). The temple is accessible only by foot or by helicopter. The pilgrims who undertake the pilgrimage to Sabarimala are called Ayyappan devotees or Sabarimala pilgrims.

The Sabarimala Festival is a 41-day pilgrimage that begins on the first day of the Malayalam month of Vrischikam (November) and ends on the 11th day of the Malayalam month of Dhanu (January). The pilgrims who undertake the pilgrimage are required to follow a strict set of rules and regulations, which include:

• They must be celibate for the entire duration of the pilgrimage.
• They must not shave or cut their hair.
• They must not consume meat, alcohol, or tobacco.
• They must wear a black or dark blue robe.
• They must carry a rudraksha mala (rosary) and a lighted lamp.

The pilgrims who complete the pilgrimage are believed to be cleansed of their sins and to have attained moksha (liberation). The Sabarimala Festival is a major event in Kerala and attracts millions of pilgrims from all over Bharat and the world.

The festival is celebrated in two parts:

• The Mandala Puja Festival: This is the main festival and is celebrated during the months of November-December.
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  Mandala Puja Festival in Sabarimala
• The Makaravilakku Festival: This festival is celebrated on the day of Makara Sankranti (January 14). 
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  Makaravilakku Festival in Sabarimala

The festival is also a major economic event for Kerala, generating billions of dollars in revenue.

The Sabarimala Festival has been the subject of controversy in recent years due to the ban on women of menstruating age (between 10 and 50 years old) from entering the temple. The ban was lifted by the Supreme Court of India in 2018, but it has been challenged by some groups. The controversy is still ongoing.

Surajkund Mela

Surajkund Mela is an annual international crafts fair held in Surajkund, Faridabad, Haryana, Bharat. It is held in the month of February every year and showcases the rich and diverse handicrafts, handlooms, and cultural heritage of Bharat.

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Surajkund Mela in Bharat

The fair is spread over an area of 40 acres and features over 2,000 stalls from all over Bharat. The stalls sell a variety of handicrafts, including textiles, jewelry, pottery, wood carving, and metalwork. There are also stalls selling traditional Indian food and sweets.

In addition to the stalls, the fair also features a number of cultural events, such as folk dances, music performances, and puppet shows. There is also a children's corner with rides and games.

The Surajkund Mela is a popular tourist destination and attracts over 1 million visitors every year. It is a great place to experience the rich culture and heritage of Bharat.

Here are some of the things you can do at the Surajkund Mela:

• Explore the stalls and buy handicrafts from all over India.
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  Stalls at Surajkund Mela in Bharat
• Enjoy the cultural performances, such as folk dances, music, and puppet shows.
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  Cultural performances at Surajkund Mela in India
• Take a ride on the Ferris wheel or other rides in the children's corner.
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  Rides at Surajkund Mela in India
• Have a meal at one of the food stalls and sample traditional Bhartiya cuisine.
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  Food stalls at Surajkund Mela in Bharat
• Just relax and enjoy the atmosphere of the fair.

Rath Yatra

Rath Yatra is a Hindu festival celebrated annually in the month of Ashadha (June–July) in the city of Puri in Odisha, Bharat. The festival commemorates the annual journey of the deities Jagannath (Krishna), Balabhadra (Balarama), and Subhadra, along with their sister-in-law, Lakshmi, from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple, about 3 kilometers away.

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Rath Yatra festival in Puri, Odisha

The chariots of the deities are called Nandighosha (for Jagannath), Taladhwaja (for Balabhadra), and Devadalana (for Subhadra). They are made of wood and are beautifully decorated with flowers, flags, and religious symbols. The chariots are pulled by thousands of devotees, who sing and dance in celebration.

The Rath Yatra is a time for great joy and celebration for the people of Puri. It is a time to come together as a community and to celebrate their faith. The festival also attracts pilgrims from all over India and the world.

Here are some of the important events of the Rath Yatra festival:

• Ratha Prathistha: This is the ceremony in which the chariots are consecrated and the deities are placed inside them. It takes place on the day before the Rath Yatra.
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  Ratha Prathistha ceremony in Puri, Odisha
• Chhera Pahanra: This is the ritual of sweeping the path of the chariots. It is believed that this will purify the path and remove any obstacles.
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  Chhera Pahanra ritual in Puri, Odisha
• Bahuda Yatra: This is the return journey of the deities from the Gundicha Temple to the Jagannath Temple. It takes place nine days after the Rath Yatra.