Kumbh Mela

The grand Kumbh Mela is organised on a massive scale every 12 years and sees millions of people visiting Haridwar (the figure has gone up as high as 10 billion). The Ardh Kumbh, held every six years, is another mega event along the same lines. There is an interesting story behind the origin of this popular festival. The gods (devtas) and demons (asuras) were fighting over the pot of nectar (kalasha of amrit) that they had found during the churning of the primordial sea (Samudra Mathan). Since the demons were more powerful, the gods entrusted the pot of nectar to four devtas - Brahaspati, Surya, Chandra and Shani, who ran away with it to keep it safe. The demons chased after them for 12 days and nights around the earth. During the chase, the gods kept the pot at Haridwar, Prayag, Ujjain and Nashik. Another legend says that a fight ensued between the gods and demons in which the pot tipped over, and the nectar fell at these four places. And today, the Kumbh Mela is held at these four destinations, once every 12 years. It sees the participation of saints, yogis and priests from across India. From the Naga sadhus who do not wear clothes and smear their bodies with ash, the Urdhwavahurs, who are willing to undergo severe austerities in their pursuit of the Almighty, the Parivajakas who use bells to communicate as they have taken a vow of silence, the Shirshasins who stand on their heads to meditate for hours on end to the Kalpvasis, who spend the Kumbh month mediating on the banks of Ganga, bathing in it thrice and performing religious rituals, all are in attendance at the mela. During the Kumbh, the waters of Ganga are said to be charged with positive healing effects with enhanced electromagnetic radiations of the sun, the moon and Jupiter. 

Kumbh Mela

Fairs and festivals

Almost every time you visit the holy city of Haridwar, you’re sure to find a fair going on. Many of them are organised around the important bathing dates of the Hindu calendar including Somwati Amavasya, Karthik Poornima, Shrvan Poornima and Ganga Dussehra. In the month of Shravana (the fifth month of the Hindu calendar – beginning in late July and ending in the third week of August), there is the popular Kanwad Mela. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Kanwad Yatra is the annual pilgrimage of the Kanwariyas (devotees of Lord Shiva) to Hindu pilgrimages including Haridwar. In fact, the city sees lakhs of Kanwariyas coming to take a bath in the holy River Ganga. Then there is a Haridwar Mahotsava that the district administration has taken the onus of organising every year. This cultural festival, held on the banks of the Ganga, goes on for up to four days and sees enthusiastic participation. At the Dargah Piran Kaliyar, Urs is observed annually, and cutting across religious and caste barriers, thousands come and pray for the well-being of their loved ones. 

Fairs and festivals