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INDIA
- Khumb Mela 2001
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The
Khumb Mela of 2001 is believed to be the largest congregation
of humanity in history. Some 60 million pilgrims visited this
Hindu festival between the 9th of January and 21st of February.
The Hindu belief is that gods and demons once fought a battle
for a khumb (pitcher) containing the nectar of immortality.
Four drops were spilled |
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at four towns along the Ganges: Allahabad, Hardiwar, Nasik and
Ujjain. A huge mela (fair) is held every 12 years at these holy
places. The Khumb at Allahabad is the largest and most significant
of all. Pilgrims from all over India mass to bath where the
three holy rivers cross: Ganges, Yamuna and the invisible, mythological
river of Saraswati. The holy confluence of the three rivers
is called Sangam. On the 24th of January an incredible 30 million
people are believed to have made the holy bath. |
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