Carnaval 2010- World Carnival Dates, Schedules and Information

India is a place where many religious and spectacular events are held almost every day and the significance of these is unparallel in the indigenous culture and tradition. Kumbh Mela is perhaps the biggest event where millions gather at one place and take dip in Holy water of a Holy River to wash off their sins. The Maha (Biggest) Kumbh Mela (Human Gathering) at Haridwar in north India is the perfect intermingle of languages, religions, sects, communities and people, which has helped this event carry its importance well into modern times. The Maha Kumbh Mela this year began on the auspicious day of Makar Sankranti- January 14th 2010 and will continue to attract devotes until it ends in April, 2010.

Mythology contains the cause of origin of this auspicious day, which has been celebrated since the time of human origin. According to it, when the gods and devils were fighting for the possession of the pot of nectar which guaranteed immortality, few drops from the pot fell in four different holy places, which made them the centre of Kumbh Melas. Planetary configurations decide the dates of the Maha Kumbh Melas which are organized in each twelve years. The Maha Kumbh Mela at Haridwar is the biggest of all the Kumbhs and is rightly cited as the path to salvation.

The visuals that one can see at the Kumbh Mela are something that they will not find elsewhere and the pure devotion of all the people who make it the Kumbh makes it even more special. The echoing music and the sounds of the chanting makes the atmosphere divine with all aiming to be close to the Supreme God in all the true meaning. The Naga Sadhus who cover their body with nothing but plain earth and ash and carrying tridents, silver maces, swords and swears do present an awesome view. Various sages from all the different Akharas fill the holy ghats and everyone just waits to take a dip in the Holy Ganga River’s Jal (water) which sure turns into nectar to wash away everything evil and bad.

Haridwar turns into a small world with all gathering from world over at one place forgetting their differences and joining in an endeavor to be blessed and purified. The religious leaders, politicians and the common man are all merged into one big crowd with nothing to distinguish them from each other. The ten Shahi Snans or the royal baths are the days, which attract the most crowd and with the religious belief flying high, no one remains aloof from the God. The evening prayers with millions of lights floating on the Holy Ganga banks and the aura the same sends is something which can only be experienced in self.

India is a land of festivals and there are many festivities and sacred occasions which tend to bring millions of people to one place. It is the strong devotion that drives people from different walks of life to come together and pray as one. One of such special experiences is the Kumbh Mela, which is held in four different locations after every three years. The Kumbh Mela is of religious importance to all the Hindus and is a bathing festival but it is open to each and every and large number of tourists from all over the world can be seen here during two months long Kumbh Mela at Prayag. This fair is organized in the Indian cities of Ujjain, Nasik, Haridwar and Allahabad.

Allahabad which is also known as Prayag is located in North India in the Uttar Pradesh state. Allahabad is held sacred as it is at the convergence of the three main holy rivers of the Hindus- the Yamuna, the Ganges and the mythical Saraswati. The Poorna or the Maha Kumbh which denotes the full Kumbh is held every 12 years while the Ardha Kumbh Mela is held once in every 6 six years at one place. Allahabad witnessed the last Poorna Kumbh Mela in January 2001 which witnessed the largest congregation of 100 million people.

The Kumbh Melas are held on sacred date which brings all the planets and stars together in a very auspicious position. On a Sacred date called Mouni Amawashya in winter season, which occurs in the month of January during Kumbh Mela total population of Mela region crosses 30 million, which is more than population of Australia. It is a world record, no other place in the world have ever seen such a big crowd.

Allahabad sees lots of radiant Himalayan saints, sadhus, sages, yogis and seers with some making a rare appearance only at this venue. On this date the holy waters of the rivers are said to turn into nectars and purify the inner self through the holy bathing rituals. Allahabad surely turns into a holy paradise during the days of the Kumbh Mela with the Vedic hymns, chiming bells, drums beating on the elephants, horses and camels and the procession of the naked saints from various orders in their chariots. The aura of the place mesmerizes all the tourists and the locals to feel the spirit and the essence of this once in lifetime event.