Understanding Kumbh Mela Festival – Thoughts and Quotes on the Greatest Festival on the Banks of Ganges
Millions of people will be performing holy bath at Prayag –
Sangam (Allahabad in India )
on the banks of Ganges
River in Prayagraj. Ganga
without any persuasion, advertisement or force. They arrive on their own. The
only force that draws them to the Sangam is Moksha or Liberation – to merge
with the Supreme Truth and escape from endless birth and death.
Sangam is the confluence of River Ganga, Saraswati and
Yamuna. Sanagm or Prayag is the holiest place in Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism).
All Hindu scriptures talk about the greatness of Sangam.
Why Hinduism does not fit into the definition of religion set
by western scholars is answered best during Kumbh Mela? Thousands of
traditions, groups, rituals, prayers, practices, sects; different language,
clothes, food, - it’s a festival of unity in diversity. Thousands of traditions
arrive to become ONE at Sangam. The core teaching that brings them to banks of Ganga is that – there is only That (the Supreme Truth) – that
is present in all animate and inanimate. The difference is only in the method
or path to reach That Supreme Truth.
Kumbh Mela extols that Santana Dharma (Hinduism) is the
collective name given to the attempts made by individuals to reach truth. Hindu
Religion acknowledges each and every individuals effort to understand the
supreme truth. It believes that all path leads to the Supreme Truth. That is
the reason why Hinduism is the most tolerant religion in the world. That is why
India
is home to all the religions in the world.
The naked Sadhu, the smoking sadhu, the sadhu who never
talks, the gurus, the philosopher, the scholar, the priest, the tantrics, the
babas, the yoginis, the atheist, the beggars, the monks, the common man who
offers prayer at home and in temples all arrive at the Kumbh Mela. They are all
welcomed. They are all offered food and water. They are listened to. They are
appreciated. The points they raise are debated. They depart without any ill
will. They promise to meet again. They
promise to continue their search.
At Sangam, three great rivers arrive from three
different directions. The three rivers have their own uniqueness. But at Sangam
they become ONE. Their identities merge. The people arrive in millions to
celebrate this merging.