Ramnavmi Mela, Ayodhya

Ayodhya, the holy city of the sacred pilgrim centre of Hindus plays host to the Ramnavmi Festival in the month of April. Thousands of worshippers gather to venerate the Lord at Kanak Bhawan.

Devi Patan Mela, Tulsipur

Held in Tulsipur (Balrampur, Gonda) during Chaitra Navratri, this fair is dedicated to Maa Patan Devi. Pilgrims come in large numbers including several from Nepal. The festivities include cultural programmes and religious ceremonies.

Kumbh Mela

The month long Kumbh Mela of Allahabad is one of the largest fairs of the world and is attended by millions of pilgrims from all over India as well as the devout from the world over. Maha Kumbh is held after a gap of twelve years where as Ardha Kumbh is held in the Sixth year after Maha Kumbh, in the months of January-February, on the banks of the holy confluence(Sangam) of rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati.

Kumbh Mela, one of the biggest melas in earth.  Held on the banks of Sangam for over a month very 12th year. On peak days it attract about 35 million of people. Kumbh Mela's history originates from the beginning of the Creation. All devtas were under the influence of a curse that made them weak and coward, Brahma, (the creator God) advised them to churn the ocean for Amrit (Nectar), intake of which will make them immortal, devtas sough the help of demons for the purpose. By their joint churning Amrit was one of the resultants, found in the last. Devtas fled with pitcher of Amrit and demons chased them. A battle ensured. During this, the pitcher of Amrit was kept at four places and few drops of amrit also fell at these places. The places were Prayag (Allahabad), Hardwar, Nasik and Ujjain. Since then when the planets come in same position Kumbh Mela is held at Prayag. The main Kumbh parva is the day of Mauni Amavasya. Other important bathing days are Makar Sankranti, Paush Poornima, Basant Panchami, Maghi Poornima and Maha Shivratri. If any other date of religious significance happens to fall during the Kumbh Mela period, it also auspicious for taking a holy dip.

The Kumbh Mela is generally held every three years in rotation at Allahabad, Hardwar, Ujjain and Nasik. The period of Kumbh Mela is Magh (Jan-Feb) month of Hindu calendar.

ARDH KUMBH

Held in the 6th year after Kumbh Mela, i.e. it falls between two Kumbh Melas. It has got the same religious value and attracts millions of people. It has the same main bathing days as in Kumbh Mela.

MAGH MELA 

The Annual Mini Kumbh

Except the years of Kumbh Mela and Ardh Kumbh Mela, Magh Mela is held every year on the banks of Sangam. Magh Mela is held in the month of Magh (Jan-Feb); hence Magh Mela. During this period about two or three million of devotees throng here. During the Magh Mela peiod, a tent city comes up for more than a month, where thousands of devotees live. Different Hindu religious organisations erect their camps during this period. Different stories and scenes from Hindu religious texts are staged by the FOLK Theatre groups in different places in the mela area.
Many devotees live in camps and ashrams for the whole duration of the mela and lead a sacred life. This is called KALPAVAS and these people are called KALPVASEE. It can be termed as Mini Kumbh Mela also due to large crowd and the main bathing days, like Kumbh Mela, are, Makar Sankranti, Paush Purnima, Mauni Amavasya, Basant Panchmi, Maghi Poornima and Maha Shivratri, Mauni Amavasya being the main bathing day, attracts the largest number of devotees.

Dates of the holy bath at Magh Mela, Allahabad in 2008
 

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