Ujjain Simhastha 2016 – History of Maha Kumbh

Simhastha that is popularly known as kumbh is a religious festival in which devotees and saints have a bath in a sacred river. It is considered to be the most peaceful gathering in which more than 100 million people are gathered together. The Kumbh mela as it is known is celebrated every third year in one of the four places including Haridwar, Allahabad (Prayaga), Nasik and Ujjain. Belief of this festival is to take a holy bath in rivers that is Ganges at Haridwar, sangam or confluence of Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati at Allahabad, Godawari at Nasik and Shipra at Ujjain. rnAs per Puranas it is believed that during churning of the ocean in the epic battle between god and demon for capturing the jar (Kumbha) of divine nectar, drops of this divine nectar of immortality fell in the river of four places Haridwar, Prayag (Allahabad), Nasik and Ujjain. rnThe kumbha or Ujjain Simhastha is held in every 12 years when Sun enters in Aries and Jupiter enters in Leo. It is started with its first bath in Shipra River from the full moon day of the first month of Hindu calendar that is Chaitra month and after continuing for the whole month ends on tenth full moon day of month of Vaishakha.rnIt is treated as one of the most religious festivals of India and people comes from various parts to take bath in this holy festival. It is believed that one who takes bath in this holy river purifies his thoughts and souls as well as he is filled with positive energy and good fortune leads them. Thus it is a religious combination of divinity and purity where sages, priests, devotees bath together and fill Ujjain with religious thoughts.rnWith the holy bath in Shipra river people also worship this river as a symbol of god. Other than this River there are many other religious places in Ujjain. People worship these places for peace of their mind. The other spots includes very famous temple of Mahakaleshwar, which is one of the jyotirlinga of India. It is treated as the seat of divine Lord Mahakal. There are many other places with religious belief that includes Bade Ganeshji Ka Mandir, Gopal Mandir, Chintaman Ganesha, Mangalnath temple, Temple of Harsiddhi etc. All devotees coming to Kumbha also visits these places.rnSimhastha is a practice of Hindus which is been carried out from years. Other than being a religious festival one can see the actual unity of Indian and their togetherness in this festival. The Ujjain city in this period is surrounded by thousands of devotees enjoying in different markets and fairs. Many other events and programs are also held for the devotees during this time. After seeing the togetherness of Indians here one can recognize the divine force that binds India together.rnSimhastha will be starting from 22 April and will be followed by traditional bath in Shipra River till 21 May. First bath will be on full moon night on 22 followed by bath on Vaishakha Krishna Amavasya, Shukla Tritiya, Shukla Panchmi, Poornima and will end on the last bath on 21 May.