A Message of Peace from The Holy Kumbh Mela.

This  is  a video of the Kumbh Mela which is currently  being held in Allahabad. Kumbh Mela is the biggest congregation of  people,gathered  for spiritual faith.The mela started on 14th January2013 (Makar Sankranti ) and will conclude on  18th March 2013(Maha Shiv Ratri). Kumbh in Hindi means  'a pitcher' and Mela means 'fair).The Devtas  had lost their powers due to a curse  by Rishi Durvasa .They were scared that Asuras  would  become  powerful.They approached Maha Vishnu  for help and guidance. Maha Vishnu advised them to churn the primal ocean(khshira Sagar) and extract Nectar from it, which would make them immortal. The Devtas approached the Asuras, their arch enemy to join them to churn the ocean with a word that they would share all the wealth obtained from the ocean.A huge mountain was used as a churning stone and a  giant serpant was taken as a churning  coil. However when the nectar(Amrit)  appeared,a fight ensued on both sides for the possession of the nectar. They fought for twelve  days and twelve nights(equivalent to twelve human years).Since the Demons  were physically strong  ,they got hold of the pitcher of Nectar. Now Maha Vishnu, diguised as  an Apsara,  took the pitcher and handed over the  to a representative of the Devtas,who  had assumed the form of a bird. While the bird was flying four drops of the nectar dripped at four locations, Haridwar, Ujjaian, Nasik and Allahabad. Each of these towns became the sites for Kumbh Mela.
               It is on these four places Kumbh is held every three years. Millions of people assemble  in these towns. It is believed that a bath in the holy rivers in these towns  would wash away all the sins  of those who participate  in  the Melas. Several religious  discourses ,discussions, prayers  and assemblies are a regular  feature. Another important ritual is poor feeding.
Mark Twain, a  famous author ,on visiting the Kumbh Mela remarked," It is wonderful, the power of a faith like that, that and can make mutitudes upon multitudes of the old and the weak and the young  and frail enter without hesitation or complaint upon such incredible journeys and endure the resultant miseries without repining. It is done in love,or it is done in fear,I do not know which it is. No matter what the impulse is the act born of it is beyond imagination  and marvellous to our kind of people, the cold whites."

 Video courtesy  You Tube