I am playing hide and seek in the tent house, it’s not a toy tent but a real one and there is a real tent city. As a kid, I am very excited and thrilled by this setup in freezing cold winters at Prayagraj(Allahabad). There is a bed, blanket, stove to cook and other necessary items in the tent and a  washroom outside the tent. Similar arrangements are there in the entire tent city, just the luxury will vary according to the price.

Everywhere lights are lit or bonfire is happening to battle the icy cold wind in winter nights. Lots of Satsang- Pravachan and sacred Mantra’s chanting is happening. These are beautiful memories of my childhood at the Kumbh, Prayagraj. For 55 days a Tent city is formed in the vast area around Sangam at Prayagraj. Triveni Sangam is a confluence of sacred rivers Ganges, Yamuna, and mystical Saraswati. Triveni Sangam symbolizes a confluence of life, wisdom, and devotion through which any soul can get liberation as river Ganges is the main source of water for life and river Saraswati symbolizes knowledge and wisdom.

Importance Of Sangam Snan:

According to Hindu Mythology, everyone should attain a balance between Knowledge-Action-Devotion(gyaan-karma-bhakti) to attain moksha(salvation) as it is the ultimate goal of life. For attaining, this balance there are many rituals mentioned in the Hindus sacred text, one of them is taking a dip in Sangam. Its importance is mentioned in various text multiple times, so millions of devotees come during Kumbh Mela to perform prayers, mantra-chanting, havan, pooja, the bathing ritual in Sangam. Millions of people come from different part of India and the world.

Kumbh is a journey from soul to salvation as millions of souls come together, forgetting all barriers of caste-creed, stature, money, religion and take a dip in Sangam, with this strong belief that they will be free from all the sins and they will get salvation. A dip in the Sangam in the auspicious period of Maha Kumbh is believed to wash out the impact of sins of many births, or even to liberate a person from the cycle of rebirths. This belief is very very old, from the time when sacred river Ganga came on the earth from heaven. In Hindu Puranas and Upanishads importance of bathing in Sangam and sacred rivers is given.

A. Rigveda :

सितासिते सरिते यत्र सङ्गते तत्राप्लुतासो दिवमुत्पतन्ति ।
ये वै तन्वं विसृजन्ति धीरास्ते जनासो अमृतत्वं भजन्ते ॥
– Rigveda, Khilsukta

Meaning: He who bathes at the Sangam (Confluence) of Ganga and Yamuna Rivers attains Heaven, and courageous individuals who sacrifice their body in this confluence attain Moksha (Final Liberation).

B. Padmapurana: Padmapurana says the following about Prayagraj.

ग्रहाणां च यथा सूर्यो नक्षत्राणां यथा शशी ।
तीर्थानामुत्तमं तीर्थं प्रयागाख्यमनुत्तमम् ॥

Meaning: Just as the sun is supreme among all celestial bodies (As per astrology), the moon in the constellation (As per astrology),
Prayagraj is supreme among all pilgrimage places.

C. Kurma Purana: Prayagraj is the superior most pilgrimage place in all the three lokas.

D. Mahabharat :

प्रयागः सर्वतीर्थेभ्यः प्रभवत्यधिकं विभो ॥
श्रवणात् तस्य तीर्थस्य नामसंकीर्तनादपि ।
मृत्तिकालम्भनाद्वापि नरः पापात् प्रमुच्यते ॥
– Mahabharat, Parva 3, Adhyaya 83, Shloka 74, 75

Meaning: O King! Prayagraj is the superior most among all pilgrimage places. If its greatness is heard, its Name is chanted or if its soil is smeared on the body, man will be liberated from all sins.

The experience and environment of Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj is unique, everywhere there are people, yogis, saints and the sound of conch shells will touch your soul and take you into another world. Heavy winters and fog can’t stop people from taking a dip at Sangam and performing rituals.

For a tourist, it’s an experience which can be felt and can’t be expressed but for Hindus, it’s a sacred ritual known as Kalpavasa– in this ritual, they have to stay for 1 month near Sangam during Magh months. According to Matasya and Padma Puran- Prayagraj becomes the most sacred place on Earth. My early childhood memories were also from this Kalpavasa when my grandmother was doing it for many years.

Millions of pilgrims come for Kumbh Mela, which according to Hindu Mythology occurs at 4 places in India as Nectar drops were dropped here during the battle between the gods and demons( Suras and Asuras). These 4 places are:

• Prayagraj(Allahabad)
• Haridwar
• Nasik
• Ujjain

Kumbh Mela is of 4 types:

• Maha Kumbh- The Maha Kumbh occurs after 12 Purna Kumbh or 144 years.
• Purna Kumbh- The Purna Kumbh occurs in every 12 years.
• Ardh Kumbh-  The Ardh Kumbh occurs in every 6 years
• Magh Mela-     Magh Mela occurs every year in the month of Magh.

There are 3 most special dates for bathing at Sangam during Kumbh Mela, these are:

• Makar Sankranti
• Mauni Amavasya
• Vasant Panchami

There are 3 types of a bath(snan) also:

• Shahi Snan- It is for Naga Sadhus.
• Akhada Snan- It is for other Sadhus.
• General public Snan

Other Aspects of Kumbh:-

Kumbh Mela has not only spiritual and religious significance but it provides job to local people and platform to showcase art and talent. There are handicraft shops, lots of food stalls, small shops etc…Due to Kumbh Mela, millions of tourist gather here and it boosts our economy and provides livelihood to local people. Every tourist is different, some come to enjoy and experience it with family, some adventure junkie come for thrill of camping in freezing temperatures, dipping in Sangam and other fun, some come here to meet sadhus  and want to see their unique lifestyle and yoga powers, some come in the search of answers of their questions, some to explore the city and its history etc. One feeling is common among all types of tourist is they feel content and happy after visiting this place and they become the spectator of world’s largest human gathering of earth and their soul enjoys among millions of souls despite having lot’s of difference, they all become one, united by one Kumbh Mela.

Some glimpse of Kumbh2019 Preparations:

You can experience this divinity by staying at Kumbh. For booking tents online: https://kumbh.gov.in

How to reach:- you can come from flights, train, by road according to your convenience.

For train booking- irctc.co.in