Haridwar Kumbh Mela 2021

Haridwar Kumbh Mela 2021 Photo Tour

 

Kumbh Mela, the largest religious gathering in the world, is held every 12 years in rotation at the four holy places of Haridwar, Allahabad, Ujjain and Nasik. The Haridwar Kumbh Mela 2021 Photo tour will be held at Haridwar. It will witness the coming together of millions of pilgrims, accompanied by sadhus and different akharas, to take a dip in the holy River the Ganges. 

The Haridwar Kumbh Mela bathing dates 2021 for this mega event have already been announced and they are mentioned below.  

 

January 14 to April 27, 2021

---

• Makar Sankranti (Snan) 14 January 2021- Starting day
• Mauni Amavasya (Snan) 11 February 2021- New moon
• Basant Panchami (Snan) 16 February 2021
• Magh Poornima 27 February 2021- Full moon
• Maha Shivratri (Shahi Snan) 11 March 2021- First Royal Bath
• Somvati Amavasya (Shahi Snan) 12 April 2021- Second Royal Bath
• Baisakhi (Shahi Snan) 14 April 2021- Third Royal Bath
• Ram Navami (Snan) 21 April 2021
• Chaitra Purnima (Shahi Snan) 27 April 2021- Fourth Royal Bath

Mythology:

---

Kumbh means pot or pitcher. Mela means festival or fair. Hence, the Kumbh Mela means festival of the pot and it specifically related to the pot of nectar in Hindu mythology.

The Kumbh Mela in India is as mesmerizing as it is spiritual. This ancient northern Indian festival is a meeting of mystical minds. The largest religious gathering in the world, Kumbh Mela 2021 brings Sages, Nagas (Sages wear ashes and have matted hairs) and the crowd from all over the world together to discuss their faith and disseminate information about Hindu Mythology & religion. Million’s of people attend this Kumbh Mela every day.

Legend has it that the gods once lost their strength. Therefore to regain it, they agreed with the demons to churn the primordial ocean of milk for Amrit (the nectar). As a result, they have to share it equally among them. However, a fight broke out, which went on for 12 human years. During the battle, the celestial bird, Garuda, flew away with the Kumbh that held the nectar. Drops of nectar are believed to have fallen in the places that the Kumbh Mela is now held — Prayag (Allahabad), Haridwar, Nashik, and Ujjain.

 

 

The Sadhus at the Kumbh Mela

---

Over the decades, the Sadhus and other holy men are an integral part of the Kumbh Mela. Pilgrims who attend it come to see and listen to these men, in order to gain spiritual enlightenment.

This Kumbh Mela serves many functions. It’s a site of pilgrimage, but it’s also a market, a party and a religious trade fair. The holy men come to recruit disciples. Their prestige and their livelihood depend on it since disciples bring donations. Some sadhus are lone operators, but there are also 13 akhadas—groups or sects of holy men.

In the last few years, these Sadhus has created their own camps or Akhadas per their belief and during each Shahi Snan (Royal Bath). Kumbh Mela witness some amazing scenes on ghats of river Ganges when each Akhada takes out a procession before taking a Royal dip in the Ganges.

Pilgrims come to the Kumbh Mela searching for moksha, or Nirvana, which they obtain through penance or tapas. The ones who take this most literally are the kalpwasis, who are arriving in the city now in large numbers. They will stay for a month in the most spartan conditions, bathing in the Ganges before dawn, eating one frugal meal a day, and renouncing all worldly temptations—notably gossip.

 

 Most Popular Tour for Haridwar Kumbh Mela- 2021- Golden Triangle tour with Kumbh Mela 2021

Travellers and Photographers Delight- Haridwar Kumbh Mela 2021 Photo Tour 

---

Haridwar Kumbh Mela 2021 Photo Tour provides you with an opportunity to experience Kumbh Mela and photograph these Nagas and Sadhus in their natural habitat.

Our team has achieved a milestone in providing its guests with a wonderful experience and photography tours at Simhastha Kumbha Mela 2016 at Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh) and Kumbh Mela 2019 at Allahabad (Prayagraj)-Uttar Pradesh.  We hosted some International photographers in this everlasting endeavour. We witnessed and become a part of the world’s largest religious gathering, and spent some time with the famous yet mysterious Naga Sadhus.

They are one of the most popular attractions of the Kumbh Mela. They are a visual delight for photographers, an enigma for true devotees and on the itinerary of every foreign tourist. You can opt for Haridwar Kumbh Mela Photo Tour 2021 as per your preferences

Tales of Nagas

---

Ironically, till a few years back, Naga Sadhus also happens to be the most low-profile and reclusive bunch of saints at the religious gathering. Their decrepit tents, frill-less blessings and reluctance to talk to the visitors are in sharp contrast to the luxury and extravagant camps, five-course prasad and meals and PR mechanisms of the other holy men at the mela.

Unless Naga sadhus venture out for a Ganga Snan (ritual bath) or other religious quests, they are difficult to find in the overcrowded fair populated by scores of sadhus. Peacefully tucked away in the by-lanes of the fairground, Naga Sadhus prefer to stay away from the scrutiny and glare of the media and tourists alike. Their reputation for being volatile and unpredictable also helps in keeping many devotees away.

They are worshippers of Lord Shiva and Agni (Fire God). Having given up every single piece of clothing while taking the pledge of sanyaas (Renunciation), they smear themselves with the vibhuti (ash) left behind by Agni. 

 

Encounters of Tourists & Nagas- Kumbh Mela 2021

---

But nowadays, when some wandering tourists and enthusiastic photographers do make their way to their remote ashram, these sadhus gladly share their stories and their ganja chillums. (The chillum with cannabis may be a major reason for the popularity of these sadhus despite their reputed mercurial temper). The main key to photograph them is to chat and spend time with them. Still, some Nagas prefer to keep a distance from tourists and we should respect this.

Lines of ashrams and akhadas stretch for miles in the Kumbh area. The entry to each akhada proudly announces its name in brightly painted banners. Inside the tented camps, sadhus sit around the dhunis (fireplaces) smoking ganja (marijuana) from their chillums or drinking slugs of asli ghee(butter)

They come from a range of backgrounds. Some are rural youth whose families send them off to become Nagas. Many akhadas want to show off their strength by the numbers of Nagas they can muster during the bath. Some Nagas are educated professionals, who find themselves drawn to the life of the sadhu as a path towards individual fulfilment.

Witness and become a part of the world’s largest religious gathering, and spent some time with the famous yet mysterious Naga Sadhus with Haridwar Kumbh Mela Photo Tour 2021.

 

 

Haridwar Kumbh Mela 2021 Photo tour

---

The next Kumbh Mela will be held at Haridwar from the middle of January up to the beginning of May 2021. therefore It gonna witness the coming together of millions of pilgrims, sadhus and saints to take a  ritual cleansing bath in the holy River Ganges on auspicious days during this period.

According to astrologers the spiritual positioning of the planets to plays a significant role. The Kumbh fair at Haridwar takes place when the Jupiter enters Aquarius and the Sun enters Aries. This planetary position is said to medicate the waters of the Ganga and turn it into nectar on these days thereby attracting millions to purify their inner self through holy bathing rituals.

Haridwar is one of the most revered pilgrimage centres in India for reasons other than the Kumbh. This is where the Holy Ganga River descends from the Himalaya mountains to the plains. It is the beginning of the pilgrims’ journey to the Char Dham. The 4 main centres of pilgrimage  are Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. Sacred to followers of Shiva and Vishnu and the birthplace of Shakti worship. A land steeped in rituals and traditions, enlightenment and liberation, holy men, temples and ashrams, yoga, meditation and Ayurveda. Bustling colourful bazaars and green verdant forests. , it is the very soul of India!

Rishikesh, the centre of Yoga schools in India, is just 30 km from Haridwar. You can plan your tour to Kumbh Mela with some more days in Rishikesh for Yoga and Meditation. 

Stay at Luxury Tents at Haridwar Kumbh Mela 2021

---

Some hospitality companies set up tented luxury accommodation with the collaboration of local government to cater to international tourists.

We are using luxurious camps which provide 3 categories of accommodations: Deluxe Tents, Luxury tents and Super Luxury tents. It offers visitors a private Bathing ghat and the luxury of unmatched service at their camps.

All the tents are with attached facilities and running hot and cold water. Our Camps have a separate dining hall where you can savour all the 3 meals (vegetarian), morning and evening Hi tea with snacks.  Minimum of three night’s stay is mandatory. There are going to be tight restrictions on movements in and out of the area and on the bathing dates. Therefore  Kumbh Mela photo tour packages are designed for minimum 3 nights, including bathing dates. If you want to experience more closely the Akhadas and Naga Sadhus, we advise you to reach Haridwar a few days before the main bathing dates.

 

Highlights of Haridwar Kumbh Mela 2021 Photo tour

---

• Kumbh Mela is mainly about taking a dip in the holy river. Shahi Snans “Royal Bath” are special holy days when thousands of Nagas come and take bath in River Ganges. It marks the climax of the festival.
• Famous spiritual leaders would come to take bath along with hundreds of their followers
• The Peshwai processions (entry of Nagas in the Kumbh Mela). That marks the arrival of the 13 Akharas few days before the Shahi Snan(royal Bathing dates) As the Akharas arrive in the Kumbh township with Bands, Drum’s beatings, Guru’s sitting on gold & silver chariots being pulled by their followers from all over the world, with cultural dances, flags, horses, camels & elephants
• Visit Akhadas. Akhada is kind of monastery for accommodation & training of Hindu monks. Meeting and interaction with Sadhus. Visiting theses akhadas give you a chance to know and observe theses, sadhus, more closely. Ujjain Kumbh Mela, witness the participation of the transgenders, who have put up an Akhada for the first time. In Maha Kumbh Mela 2019, they took out their procession as well. These Akhadas are located in acres.
• This tour will be led by photographer Harsh Agarwal