The Rajim Kumbh is an annual Hindu pilgrimage held in Rajim, situated in the Gariyaband district of Chhattisgarh, India. This pilgrimage mirrors the traditional Kumbh festivals held in Haridwar and Allahabad. Rajim Kumbh 2025 date is February 12. Devotees gather to take a sacred dip in the confluence of the Mahanadi, Pairi, and Sondur rivers in Rajim, offering worship at the Rajiv Lochan temple. Celebrated each year during February-March for approximately 15 days, the Rajim Kumbh attracts thousands of devotees and saints from various regions of India and beyond.
The festival sees the participation of Naga Sadhus, Sants,
Mahatmas, Rishis, Munis, and Margdarshak Gurus. Pilgrims start arriving in
Rajim a day before the festival, engaging in special midnight puja. Two
prominent temples visited during the Kumbh are the Shri Kuleshwar Mahadev and
Shri Rajiv Lochan.
The Rajim Kumbh Story is rooted in oral traditions.
According to one version, Bhagavan Vishnu tasked Bhagavan Vishwakarma, the
chief architect of the universe, with building a temple cum earthly abode in a
place untarnished by death or cremation. Unable to find such a place,
Vishwakarma returned empty-handed. In response, Bhagavan Vishnu hurled a Lotus
to Earth, instructing Vishwakarma to construct a temple where the flower
touched the ground. This legend gave rise to the Rajim Lochan temple and the
Panchkoshi Dhaam, comprising Kuleshwarnath (Rajim), Champeshwarnath
(Chamaranya), Bramhkeshwarnaath (Bramhani), Pandeshwarnath (Fingeshwar), and
Kopeshwarnaath (Kopra).
There is also another popular story associated with the
Rajim Kumbh. In ancient times, there was a king named Ratnakar known for his
piety and religious devotion. He was deeply engrossed in performing a Yagya, a
sacred Vedic ritual, when he faced a formidable challenge. Demons disrupted the
ceremony, causing chaos and despair for the king. Overwhelmed by the situation,
King Ratnakar cried out to the gods for help.
Simultaneously, in another part of the kingdom, a royal
elephant named Gajendra was entangled in a life-and-death struggle with a
vicious crocodile named Grah. The mighty elephant, in immense pain and
distress, fervently prayed to Bhagavan Vishnu, the preserver in Hinduism, for
salvation. Hearing the sincere plea of Gajendra, Bhagavan Vishnu swiftly
appeared barefoot to rescue the suffering elephant from the clutches of the
crocodile.
Having successfully saved Gajendra, Bhagavan Vishnu then
turned his attention to King Ratnakar, who was still in distress due to the
demonic interruption of his Yagya. The compassionate deity appeared before the
king, offering solace and blessings. Touched by King Ratnakar's devotion and
remorse for the disturbance in his rituals, Bhagavan Vishnu bestowed his divine
grace upon him.
As a result of this encounter, Bhagavan Vishnu made a
significant promise to King Ratnakar. He pledged to stay on Earth in the form
of 'Rajim Lochan,' signifying another sacred abode of the deity. This marked
the beginning of the Kumbh Mela festival, a grand congregation that attracts
millions of devotees seeking spiritual purification and divine blessings.
The legend beautifully underscores the transformative power
of sincere devotion, the divine compassion of Bhagavan Vishnu, and the
symbolism of Kumbh Mela as a sacred gathering where the faithful can connect
with the divine and receive blessings.
The festival begins on Magha Purnima or full moon day in
Magh month as per traditional Hindu lunar calendar and culminates after 15 days.