Rituals of Kumbh

Kumbh Mela is the largest human gathering of faith in the world. This highly auspicious festivity attracts millions of devotees from different religious background from across the world. Devotees participate in this religious fair with great enthusiasm and faith. Har ki Pauri, the most sacred ghat in Haridwar remains crowded with devotees throughout the Mela. Several rituals are performed by the devotees, priests, saints and sadhus during the Kumbh Mela.

It is believed that a dip in the holy waters of Ganga, which according to Hindu astrologers turns into nectar during Kumbh, frees one of all sins and also liberates from the sufferings of birth and death. Also it is said that the water of Ganga gets positively charged due to the electromagnetic radiations of the Sun, Moon and Jupiter during the Kumbh Mela.

People also feed sadhus, saints and the poor during the Mela. Other activities encompass singing of devotional songs, debates and discussions on religion etc. From spiritual point of view the position of planets during Kumbh Mela is considered best for meditation and concentration.

Har Ki Pauri is the most famous ghat on the banks of the sacred river Ganga. The terms 'Har' means 'Lord Shiva', 'Ki', means 'of', and 'Paudi', means 'steps'. The legend goes that Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu visited the Brahmakund in Har Ki Pauri ghat during the Vedic age. The ghat is also known as Brahmakund Ghat and was built by King Vikramaditya in the 1st century BC in memory of his brother Bhartrihari.

Ganga aarti ceremony is performed here during the Kumbh Mela which is very uplifting. The priests holding huge fire bowls in their hands, the gongs in the temples ringing loudly creating melodious sound and devotees chanting with great devotion are a part of the aarti. After the aarti the devotees float earthen diyas decorated with flowers in the holy water, which is a sight to behold.