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Kumbh Mela or Kumbha Mela ( or ) is a mass Hindu pilgrimage of faith in which Hindus gather to bathe in a sacred river. The festival is considered to be one of the largest peaceful gatherings in the world, and as the "world's largest congregation of religious pilgrims".〔(The Maha Kumbh Mela 2001 ) indianembassy.org〕 There is no precise method of ascertaining the number of pilgrims, and the estimates of the number of pilgrims bathing on the most auspicious day may vary. An estimated 120 million people visited Maha Kumbh Mela in 2013 in Allahabad over a two-month period, including over 30 million on a single day, on 10 February 2013 (the day of Mauni Amavasya). The Kumbh Mela is held periodically at one of the four places by rotation: Haridwar, Allahabad (Prayaga), Nashik (Trimbak) and Ujjain. The main festival site is located on the banks of a river: the Ganges (''Ganga'') at Haridwar; the confluence (''Sangam'') of the Ganges and the Yamuna and the mythical Sarasvati at Allahabad; the Godavari at Nashik; and the Shipra at Ujjain. Bathing in these rivers is thought to cleanse a person of all sins.〔McLean, Kama. "(Seeing, Being Seen, and Not Being Seen: Pilgrimage, Tourism, and Layers of Looking at the Kumbh Mela )." (2009): 319-41. Ebscohost. Web. 28 Sept. 2014..〕 At any given place, the Kumbh Mela is held once in 12 years. Generally, there is a difference of around 3 years between two Kumbh Melas at different places, except in case of Nashik and Ujjain, where the festival is celebrated in the same year or one year apart. The exact date is determined according to a combination of zodiac positions of the Jupiter, the Sun and the Moon. At Nashik and Ujjain, the Mela may be held while a planet is in Leo (Simha in Hindu astrology); in this case, it is also known as Simhastha. At Haridwar and Allahabad, an ''Ardha'' ("Half") Kumbh Mela is held every sixth year; a ''Maha'' ("Great") Kumbh Mela occurs after 144 years. The exact age of the festival is uncertain. According to medieval Hindu theology, Lord Vishnu dropped drops of Amrita (the drink of immortality) at four places, while transporting in a ''kumbha'' (pot). These four places are identified as the present-day sites of the Kumbh Mela. The name "Kumbh Mela" literally means "Kumbha (pot) festival". It is known as "Kumbh" in Hindi (due to schwa deletion); in Sanskrit and some other Indian languages, it is more often known by its original name "Kumbha". == Mythological origin == According to medieval Hindu theology, the origin of the festival is found in one of the most popular medieval puranas, the Bhagavata Purana. The ''Samudra manthan'' episode (Churning of the ocean of milk), is mentioned in the ''Bhagavata Purana,'' ''Vishnu Purana,'' the ''Mahabharata,'' and the ''Ramayana.''〔(Ramayana, Book I; Canto: XLV – ''The Quest for the Amrit'' ) ''Ramayana'' of ''Valmiki''.〕 The traditional account says that the Devas had lost their strength by the curse of Durvasa Muni, and to regain it, they approached Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva. They directed all the demigods to Lord Vishnu and after praying to Lord Vishnu, he instructed them to churn the ocean of milk Ksheera Sagara (primordial ocean of milk) to receive amrita (the nectar of immortality). They had to make a temporary agreement with their arch enemies, the Asuras, to work together with a promise of sharing the wealth equally thereafter.〔(The Holiest Day in History ) ''Time'', 31 January 1977.〕 However, when the ''Kumbha'' (urn) containing the amrita appeared, a fight ensued. For twelve days and twelve nights (equivalent to twelve human years), the Devas and Asuras fought in the sky for the pot of amrita. It is believed that during the battle, Lord Vishnu (incarnated as Mohini-Mürti) flew away with the Kumbha of elixir, spilling drops of amrita at four places: Allahabad (Prayag), Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik.〔(Urn Festival ), ''Time'', 1 May 1950.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Kumbh Mela」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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