Magh Mela, Prayagraj - Dates, Rituals, Venue, Attractions, History

Magh Mela Prayagraj

One of the grand Hindu religious fairs is known as Magh Mela or KumbhMela. It is held after a period of 4 years. But the smaller version of this Mela is organized every year in Allahabad (in the north side of India). The fact is that the Magh Mela is considered as the greatest annual festival of Hindu religion and celebrated on the banks of Triveni Sangam in Prayag every year. It is a place in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh where one will find the confluence (Triveni Sangam) of the three great rivers named as Ganga, Yamuna & Saraswati. As per the traditional Hindu calendar followed in North India, this Hindu fair and religious gathering is celebrated in the month of Magh (Mid January to February). That’s why it is termed as Magh Mela. It is a smaller version of Kumbh Mela. The real sight in Allahabad is the Magh Mela. Bundle-laden pilgrims in their thousands arrive each day to settle around tents or makeshift huts surmoumted by pennants, denoting subcastes or localities. Holy men lie on beds of thorns or read out scriptures to worshippers ready to take the ritual plunge. Rows of barbers attend to pilgrims eager to comply with orthodox precepts and have their heads shaven before their bath. Rose petals and marigold are thrown into the holy river by pious Hindu women as an offering. Improvised stalls sell food, souvenirs and images of deities. There are no bathing terraces and most pilgrims are rowed by innumerable boats into mid-river — shallow at this time of the year — to perform their immersion.

To explore various aspects of Magh Mela, it is recommended to go to the Triveni Sangam on the day of Makar Sankranti in January. It is the first important auspicious bathing day as per the Hindu calendar. This day starts with numerous pilgrims taking a holy dip. A large number of people congregate here every year and stay in tents or makeshift cottages at the Sangam to spend their entire month of Magh in prayers. The pilgrims, staying here for month-long and living a saintly life, are called ‘kalpvasis’. The month-long stay is known as ‘kalpvas’. People observe ‘kalpvas’ in Magh Mela to absolve themselves from the sins which they did in their previous birth and to ensure escape from the cycle of Janma (birth) and Karma (actions). During the entire period of the Magh Mela, all Kalpvasis take bath in the Sangam very early in the morning (Brahm Muhurt). They keep praying during the bathe and in the last offer water to Sun (Arghya). The fact is that most of the Kalpvasis take only a single meal in a day. Moreover, once observed 12 Kalpavas, a Kalpavasi donates his/her bed and other belongings to others which is known as Shayyadaan.

The people, willing to attend or visit Magh Mela, can contact Optima Travels. Uttar Pradesh government makes special arrangements annually to take care of the devotees. Numerous buses are put into service to ferry the pilgrims to the Magh Mela safely. The big township of tents on the banks of the Sangam gives shelter to millions of people who come from all over the world. Special medical and security arrangements are made by the state administration. Lost and Found camps, managed by the local police, are established there as well.

Rituals in Magh Mela in Prayagraj: The Magh Mela commences in Prayagraj with a bath on Paush Purnima. In Hinduism, the month of Magha is considered very sacred. Starting from Paush Purnima, Magh Mela runs till Mahashivratri. Chanting, penance, bathing, meditation, charity and virtue assimilation have special significance in the month of Magha. In the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and the invisible Saraswati, lakhs of pilgrims gather in Prayagraj to take a dip and perform Kalpavas. Though taking a dip (Holy Bath) in River Ganga and Triveni Sangam is always considered sacred but there are religiously six bathing (Snan - स्नान) dates in Magh Mela - Paush Purnima, Makar Sankranti, Shattila Ekadashi, Mauni Amavasya, Basant Panchami, Achala Saptami, Jaya Ekadashi and Magh Purnima.

Every day Yajna & ‘havan’ are performed by the saints, sadhus and kalpavasis. Worship of Sun God is performed daily in the morning by offering ‘arghya’ after having bath in the Ganga. People donate food (भोजनदान), grain (अन्नदान) and seasame (तिलदान). In addition to these religious rituals, the pilgrims