What Makes Kumbh Mela part of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List

What Makes Kumbh Mela Part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List?

The largest human confluence of Hindu saints and devotees, Kumbh Mela is the oldest religious fair of Hindus held after every twelve years in one of the four sites, Nashik, Ujjain, Haridwar and Allahabad in rotation. This world renowned fair sees millions of visitors from all over India and world irrespective of religion who come to experience the vivid beauty of Hindu culture and rituals. The magnanimity of Kumbh Mela has left a mark on all stratas and cultures around the world which is the reason this fair has been recognized as ‘Intangible cultural heritage’ by UNESCO.

UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List According to UNESCO, safeguarding intangible features of a culture which includes rituals, chants, prayers, customs and practices adopted by earlier generations, is far more important than preserving monuments and buildings in order to retain the culture of a particular segment of society. With the inclusion of the fair in Unesco’s cultural heritage list, the popularity of Kumbh Mela Tour Packages is expected to rise. Here are some top reasons which got Kumbh Mela the recognition of Intangible Cultural heritage of India.

Kumbh Mela Part of UNESCO’s Mythological Significance The practice of Kumbh Mela is attributed to a legend of Lord Vishnu described in Mahabharata.

According to this legend, drops of nectar which Lord Vishnu was carrying in an earthen pot fell in river Ganga, when he was trying to protect it from the Asuras as the nectar and rendered the river with magical purifying powers.

This is the primary reason behind holding the fair on the banks of four rivers Ganga, Shipra, Godavari and Yamuna and the confluence of three rivers Triveni Sangam.

Holy Bath During Kumbh Mela Customs and rituals The observance of customs and rituals by the Sadhus during Kumbh Mela is what lends richness to this festival. These centuries old customs are passed on to the newer generations in a strategic way in which a Guru teaches his disciples about the history behind the fair and also provides them with the knowledge of various customs and chants. The holy dip is the most important part of the fair which is said to cleanse a person from all the sins and frees him from the cycle of rebirth. For this reason thousands of Hindu devotees gather at the banks of the holy rivers at sunrise to take the holy bath during Kumbh Mela.

Discussions on Hindu religion The fair also attempts to build an understanding of Hindu religion among the masses. In fact, a large number of foreigners participate in the fair to know in detail the various aspects of Hindu religion.

During this month long fair, sages and ascetics hold discussions on Hindu religion and conduct an in-depth analysis of the religion through discourses. The fair is a rare opportunity to see the Sadhus who have renounced the material world and live in caves. These Sadhus come out of their caves only to be a part of this religious event.

Upcoming Kumbh Mela 2019 One of the foremost things about the Kumbh Mela which garners attention from all corners of the world is its alliance with astronomy and science. The dates for the fair are determined by observing the planetary positions. It is believed that when planet Jupiter enters a particular astrological sign, the water and air of the four holy cities Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain and Allahabad, acquire magical powers which are known to cleanse a person of all his sins if he takes the holy dip in the rivers on the auspicious days. The venue for the upcoming Kumbh Mela is also decided by studying the position of planets in the astrological signs.

Historical Connections Kumbh Mela bears a strong relation with history as the fair is almost eight hundred years old. The earliest record of Kumbh Mela was discovered in the writings of seventh century Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang, who had witnessed the event during his travel to India with best travel agents. According to him, several pilgrims along with kings, saints, ministers and sages assembled on the banks of a river to take the holy dip at the beginning of two month long festival.

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