Kumbha Sankranti is not only a Hindu religious event but also an event of international attraction. It is considered as one of the largest religious festivals in the world which is addressed as Kumbha Mela.
Although Kumbha Sankranti is famous all around India and indeed in the world, yet its charm is worth witnessing among the people of Eastern India.
Overview
Meaning of Kumbha Sankranti
The word Kumbha Sankranti is made of two words- ‘Kumbha’ and ‘Sankranti’. Kumbha is also known as Aquarius. It is a Zodiac sign which is represented by the Water-bearer. Sankranti indicates the transition of the Sun from one Rashi (zodiac sign) to the other one. As the above two words suggest, Kumbha Sankranti occurs when the transition of the sun happens from Kumbha Rashi to Meena Rashi that is from Aquarius zodiac to Pisces zodiac.
It denotes the movement of the Sun from Makar Rashi to Kumbha Rashi that is the transition from Zapricorn zodiac to Aquarius zodiac.
Names of Kumbha Sankranti
In Malayalam, the Kumbha fest is addressed as Masi Masam as per the Malayalam calendar.
People in the West Bengal region celebrate it as the beginning of the Falgun Maas.
Day and Date of Kumbha Sankranti
According to the Hindu Lunar calendar, it comes in ‘Phalguna’, the twelfth month of the ‘Panchang’ Hindi calendar.
Auspicious Muhurat Time of Kumbha Sankranti
Kumbha Sankranti is one of the Vishupadi Sankranti(S); Others are - Vrishabha Sankranti, Simha Sankranti, and Vrishchika Sankranti.
Kumbha Sankranti related auspicious muhurat falls 16 Ghati(s) before the Kumbha Sankraman moment. It means that the muhurta for Daan-Punya-related righteous activities is the time window of 16 Ghati before Sankranti to Sankranti.
(Time of Sankraman)
(Duration of Muhurat: 01 Hour 52 Mins)
(Duration of Muhurat: 05 Hours 36 Mins)
God of the Festival
As the occasion of Kumbha Sankranti belongs to the Sun-transition event, people do offer early morning prayers at the river banks, yet the worships are specifically offered, addressing the holy rivers such as Ganga considering her as the mother.
Rituals
The most famous ritual associated with Kumbha Mela during Kumbha Sankranti is the holy bath. Millions of people gather at the Ganga River’s bank to take a dip in the holy river and observe the sacred bath.
They perform this with belief that all their sins and evil will be washed and removed by the holy water of the religiously significant river.
Devotees who find themselves unable to visit River Ganga, they visit other holy rivers such as Yamuna, Shipra, and the Godavari, for taking a dip in the holy water.
People also donate different types of food items, home accessories, and clothes to the Brahmin Pandits (priests) during the time frame of Shubh Muhurat (auspicious time).
The offerings are given to cows too as they are considered as a mother icon because of the consumption of her milk.
Significance of Kumbha Sankranti
Kumbha Sankranti marks the arrival of the eleventh month of the Hindu Solar calendar which falls in March.
One of the most important rituals or traditions of Kumbha Sankranti is taking a dip in the Ganga (Ganges) as its water is considered to be holy which can remove the sins. The believers especially go to Allahabad for visiting Triveni, a spot that witnesses the confluence of three holy rivers- Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati. The followers signify this as a highly auspicious event and opportunity to perform the bathing ritual for salvation and getting free from the vicious birth- circles.
Kumbha Mela
The significance of Kumbha Mela is so high among the Hindu Indians that their faith makes it a worth recording event. Counted among the world’s greatest mass pilgrimage which is witnessed by about 50 to 100 million visitors, Prayag’s bath and saying a prayer to Sun while this holds great significance for the Sankranti followers. The event at the Ganga and Yamuna rivers’ confluence can be seen as a traditional attribute to Indian Saint Adi Shankaracharya.
Mythologies
People believe it auspicious to take bath in the holy river for good fortune and life. They also believe that once in a lifetime dip in a holy river washes away their sins and leads them to Moksha or salvation.
Other than removing the sins, the meditation to Ganga Maa with a clean heart is believed to bless one with a joyful and prosperous life.
Celebrations
In India, some cities are revered as holy cities such as Haridwar, Allahabad, Nasik, and Ujjain. People visit these cities during Kumbha Sankranti for taking a dip in the holy water of the rivers, praying at their bank for good luck and happiness.
One can witness the temples at river banks fully filled with devotees.
