KUMBH MELA: INDIA’S MOST AWE-INSPIRING SPECTACLE
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There are numerous claimants of the title “the greatest show on earth” but it’s hard to look past India’s Kumbh Mela (graphic content) for sheer jaw-dropping color and scale.
100 million Hindu pilgrims from all corners of the globe converge on the banks of the holy Ganges River for this grand spectacle, seeking spiritual purification and enlightenment.
The opportunity to erase one’s sins by bathing in the holy Ganges is essential for every Hindu at least once in their lives. Ritual bathing in the sacred water, which is saturated with flower, incense, and fragrance, is followed with enchantment of Vedas, hymns, and mantras. Hindus believe that the process helps achieve moksha, which is liberation of the immortal soul from the cycle of life, death and rebirth.
The Kumbh Mela is held in India at four different locations (Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik, and Ujjain) on a rotating basis every 12 years.
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While the full Kumbh Mela occurs in 12-year cycles, there are three additional festivals held in between. The 2025 staging of the Kumbh at Prayagraj (also known as Allahabad) will be a full Kumbh and it looks set to be a monumental event of spiritual significance.
The festival will be preceded in 2024 by a smaller iteration, also held in Prayagraj, with merely tens of millions of pilgrims. But the main event will take place in 2025, where a staggering 100-plus million pilgrims are expected to attend, and a new luxury tented camp will open offering comfortable accommodation for Remote Lands clients.
Kumbh means pot or pitcher, while mela means festival or fair. According to ancient Hindu mythology, Lord Vishnu released drops of an immortality nectar (carried in a kumbh) in the four places where the holiday is now celebrated.
The event is characterized by rituals, holy dips in the river, and vibrant processions led by revered saints and sadhus (holy men). It is a testament to India's rich cultural and religious heritage, fostering a sense of unity and devotion among attendees.
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You’ll need to book early to secure the best possible accommodation during the 2024 and 2025 Kumbh. And one of the most alluring options for the 2025 event is at brand new TUTC Camp Sangam Nivas. Positioned at the highest point of the Kumbh Mela, Sangam Nivas offers the perfect vantage point for guests to observe and soak in the atmosphere of the Kumbh.
The camp is directly in line with the Sangam, the main bathing area and overlooks the Akharas of the sadhus, religious communities, and seers. An exclusive viewing terrace adds to the experience, by offering the guests a chance to marvel at the ocean of enthusiastic devotees, without leaving the comforts of the camp. Telescopes and binoculars will be available for guests to get a panoramic view of the mind-blowing scale and substance Kumbh Mela.
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Continue your spiritual odyssey through the subcontinent by combining Kumbh Mela with sacred Varanasi. On the banks of the Ganges, ancient Varanasi is the holiest city in India, holding profound significance for both Hindu and Jain faiths. Witnessing sunrise over the Ganges from its riverside ghats is an enduring and timeless experience. Exploring the city's rich tapestry of art, rituals, and culture is also a must. Farther west, Rajasthan is especially alluring in January (when the Kumbh is staged) due to favorable weather conditions. The one-time home of the fearsome Rajput warrior clans is an exercise in contrasts. Bustling cities such as Jaipur and Jodhpur are color-charged hubs of activity, their modern energy augmented by stirring reminders of the region’s rich past in the shape of forts and palaces. Meanwhile, out in the wilds, the desert takes over – its sun-kissed splendor punctuated by oasis towns such as Jaisalmer. January is also a great time to visit other highlights of Northern India such as New Delhi and Agra, the home of the Taj Mahal.
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