World’s largest human gathering Maha Kumbha began at Prayag Raj on January15 on Makar Sankranti festival. The UNESCO of United Nations has recognized it as world’s biggest cultural event.
Among the four Kumbha in Nasik Maharashtra on the bank of River Godawari, at Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh on the bank of River Kshipra, at Haridwar in Uttarakhand on the bank of River Ganga and Maha Kumbha at Prayag Raj in Uttar Pradesh in the confluence of River Ganga-Yamuna and invisible Saraswati river. Same 15 crores of people will visit the Mahakumbha into its one and half month long duration.
On the Makar Sankranti people in large numbers have also gathered at Ujjain, Hardwar, Hoshangabad, Nasik and Varanasi for holy bath. This time Uttar Pradesh Government has organized the Mahakumbha on a spread out area of 3200 hectares with all modern technology.
A day before on January 14 fire broke out in a tent enclave but it was brought under control, only 25 pandals gutted. The fire was caused by the blast in the LPG cylinder. About 13 traditional Akhadas performed “Shahi Snan” in a queue system. On the first day 35 lakh people took the holy dip at the ‘Sangam’.
The bathing days are 15, 21 & 31 in January and on 4, 10, 16 & 19 February. The last bath in March 4 and with this Mahakumbha will come to an end. There are 35 bating ghats for the Mahakumbha ceremony. For certain reason the Golden Baba expelled from Kumbha.
In Madhya Pradesh Makar Sankranti bath was performed in the Kumbha River Kshipra at the Ujjain at the three specified ghats. At Hoshangabad the Railways stopped through trains to facilitate the pilgrim coming here for bath in Holy Narmada. Omkareshwar also thousands of people took a dip in river Narmada.
At the fag end of river Ganga at Sagar Deep in Ganga Sagar near Kolkata heavy rush of people gathered here to take bath in Ganga. On this day the Sun comes into Northern Hemisphere from the Southern Hemisphere. It is change of season from winter towards in summer season.
Makar Sankranti observed in various states with different names.In Punjab its Lohari, in Tamil Nadu it is Pongal. It is considered as agriculture festival all over India. With the Makar Sankranti the Sun in India considered “uttarayan” and start of marriage season also.