Diplomatist Magazine Diplomatist January 2019 | Page 53

CULTURE CONNECT
P
rayagraj Ardh Kumbh Mela, 2019 is being held
at Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh,
India from 15 January to 4 March 2019.
The Ardh Kumbh Mela began with the Shahi
Snan on Makar Sankranti, January 15 at Prayagraj.
This 48-day event is expected to see a record turnout
of around fi fteen crore people, making it the biggest
human congregation on earth. The administration has
made several arrangements to make the world’s largest
peaceful gathering of people a pleasant experience.
During this period the devotees would take a dip at
the confl uence of Ganga, Yamuna and now disappeared
river Saraswati which is called Triveni.
The ritual to take the holy dip kickstarts after the
fi rst Royal Bath (Shahi Snan) in which the sadhus take
the holy dip after which only the common masses are
allowed for ablution.
This year three days have been reserved – January 15,
February 4 and February 10 for the Shani Snan. A festive
ambiance immersed in the complete religious fervour
gives a splendid spectacle as the devotees take a dip at
Triveni and participate in the evening aartis.
The earlier events have been very successful in
drawing the foreign crowd from the USA, Britain, and
Germany who cohesively mixes with the local crowd
for indigenous festivity.
For the interim period, the ghats become a makeshift
home for the thousands of devotees who could be seen
crammed in the camps for days. But the festivity fervour
is never dampened as spiritual reckoning keeps the
enthusiastic devotees exuberant.
According to the legends and the lore taking a holy
bath at the confl uence rid the worshipper of their sins.
The Ardh Kumbh Mela is held after
every six years in Allahabad and
Haridwar.
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 7 • Issue 1 • January 2019, Noida • 53