MAHAKUMBH
- ART AND CULTURE
News: U.P. govt. conducts first meeting for Mahakumbh
What's
in the news?
●
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi
Adityanath chalked out the outline of Mahakumbh-2025
at a high-level meeting organised in Prayagraj.
● Mr. Adityanath pushed the idea that Mahakumbh-2025 should represent the 'new Uttar Pradesh' of 'new India', showcasing the rich culture, the administrative capacity and the tourism possibilities of the State in front of the world.
Kumbh
Mela:
●
Kumbh Mela is held every four times every 12 years at four different locations across
central and northern India.
●
It is the largest religious congregation and largest peaceful gathering on
the planet.
●
This vast celebration attracts tens of
millions of Hindu pilgrims, including mendicant nagas.
●
The first written evidence of the Kumbh
Mela is mentioned in Bhagavad Purana.
●
Another written evidence of Kumbha Mela is
in the works of Huen Tsang, who
visited India in 629–645 AD, during the reign of Harsha.
● The Samudra manthan episode also has been mentioned in Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu Purana, Mahabharata, and Ramayana.
Location:
Kumbh Mela is held every
third year at one of four places by rotation:
●
Haridwar
on the Ganges in Uttarakhand.
●
Ujjain
on the Shipra in Madhya Pradesh.
●
Nashik
on the Godavari in Maharashtra.
●
Prayagraj
at the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna, and the mythical Sarasvati in
Uttar Pradesh.
Thus, it is held at each of these four places every twelfth year.
Rivers:
● The rivers at these four places are Ganga at Haridwar, Prayag Sangam at Allahabad, Godavari at Nashik, and Shipra at Ujjain.
Types
of Kumbh Melas:
●
The normal
Kumbh Mela is held every 3 years.
●
The Ardh
(half) Kumbh Mela is held every six years at Haridwar and Allahabad
(Prayag).
●
The Purna
(complete) Kumbh Mela takes place every twelve years.
● The largest crowd is held on Mauni Amavasya.
UNESCO
Cultural Heritage:
●
India, known for its heritage and cultural
diversity has 13 cultural heritages
in the UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list.
●
“Kumbh Mela” was the latest addition to
the list.