The mystic kumbh mela from mythology to reality Chauhan Anjali, Head and Senior Lecturer Department of Anthropology, J.N.P.G. College, Lucknow (India) Online published on 16 February, 2012. Abstract The legendary Kumbh Mela is the biggest Hindu fair which takes place after every 12 years at four different destinations in India. It is a spectacular congregation of sages, ascetics and common men which is astrologically predetermined. The Kumbh is one of the entries in the Guinness book of world record s, for the largest number of people gathering for a religious cause. The earliest references of the Kumbh have been found in the Rigveda (10/89/7), Visnu Purana, Mahabharata, Bhagavad-Gita, and Ramayana. Besides being the biggest gathering in the world for a sacred cause, it is ‘redeemer of sins’ marked by ritual bathing, it is a lifestyle, it is a culture, it is a ‘sea of humanity’ where larger social, cultural, religious causes of welfare of humanity are discussed by the saints of India. The paper is based on empirical study conducted during the recent Kumbh Gathering at Haridwar(2010). The paper shall discuss two major rituals, the ‘peshwais’ and the ‘shahi snan’ of the ‘akharas’. These rituals are the showcase of the Kumbh Mela and the major crowd catcher. Millions of people from around the world witness these rituals. The researcher shall also attempt to explore their ideological basis and socio-cultural significance. Top Keywords Ganga, Ceremonial Bathing, Sadhus, Fair, Ritual. Top |