Pain points:
- 1. The fear of facing the massive human gathering
Every time Simhastha Kumbha Mela witnesses one of the largest gatherings of humanity on the face of earth. Millions of people, including the holy saints, mahants, mahamandaleshwars and devotees gather there for the holy bath and for other hindu rituals. Many people consider the millions of people gathering at a single place during a specific time as a threat and hence avoid going to one of the most divine celebrations of faith; the holy Kumbha Mela. Their main concerns include the possible occurrence of stampede, fear of getting lost in the gathering and most of all, the likelihood of a terror attack during such a gigantic human assembly.
- 2. Poor management by the concerned authorities
Many doubt the authorities with respect to the crowd management during the festival. A large capital and a dedicated team is required to handle such a massive crowd and it seriously can be an issue if not handled properly by the concerned authorities. Creating an ephemeral town on the ghats of the holy river and maintaining it for the period of one month during which millions of people will take a dip in the holy river is undoubtedly a huge task. Basic needs including water, food and tents for living need to be arranged which is a major task in itself.
- 3. Fear of acquiring infection/epidemic diseases
Due to immense crowd converging at a single place, some people also believe that this could lead to transfer of communicable diseases as people come from various backgrounds, environment, and climatic conditions. Also, the place of Kumbha Mela is new for many, due to which many devotees get bothered regarding the environment related health issues.
- 4. Hygiene Issues
Kumbha Mela sees millions of people living together for a month long period in a temporary town. Creating and settling in this transient town with limitation of space and moreover taking bath in the sacred river, often leads to arousal of hygiene related issues among the visitors of Kumbha Mela. Some even consider the risk of catching water borne or air borne diseases due to the unhygienic environment.
- 5. Fear of Aghoris (as they feed on corpses at times)
They certainly are one of the most feared and respected group of naked holy men in Simhastha Kumbha Mela. Many people across the globe are terrified by the extreme practices of Aghoris or the Naga Sadhus. They are believed to be feeding on putrefied human corpses, animal faeces, rotten food and drink animal urine. It is also said that they can see the future and are the most mysterious group of sadhus.
- 6. Coming out of your comfort zone
In accordance with the usual belief, living in Kumbha Mela Kshetra is certainly not everyone’s cup of tea. It requires sacrifices to be made with regards to leaving the comforts of your house and staying along the banks of the holy river in temporary tents with compromised basic facilities like water,sanitation, food and a proper place to sleep.
- 7. Being afraid of getting mugged
People from all background and social status attend the holy festival of Kumbha Mela. They doubt the security and often tend to feel unsafe. Many of the devotees hold this opinion that there might be robbers and pickpockets coming at the Kumbha Mela. They set this fear in their minds and further avoid visiting the largest religious festival.
8.The suspicion of a terror attack
This is a general belief that people often avoid crowded areas, as there might be a possibility of a fatal terrorist attack. Some pilgrims decide on not attending the Kumbha Mela due to this particular assumption.
Claim points:
(What the Yoga Kumbha Camp at Kumbha Mela can provide)
- 1. Organised, hygienic and secure environment at Kumbha Mela
The need for revival of the Kumbha Mela kshetra for a more organised, hygienic and safe surroundings has lead to creation of a flamboyant ephemeral town along the banks of the holy river. The Yoga Kumbha 2016 camp during the Simhastha Kumbha Mela aims to provide a very hygienic and eco-friendly facilities to its participants. The accommodation being provided at the camp is environment friendly, clean and fulfills all the basic requirements of a modern devotee. From sterile bedsheets to sanitary toilets, specific attention has been given to make the surroundings germ-free for guests coming from across the world.
The camp is within the Kshetra of the Kumbha Mela but still isolated and secured enough from rest of the Kumbha Mela crowd. Guarded area for the holy bath, hundreds of security guards to shield the camp area, security and drone cameras will take care of the safety concerns of the guests.
- 2. Comfortable Accommodation
Eco-friendly and modern measures have been kept in mind to create some of the most comfortable tents at the Yoga Kumbha camp by Ujjain Yoga Life Society. 24- hours water, geyser, environment friendly air cooler and Wifi zone are some of the facilities that will be provided.
- 3. Well managed facilities to hear lectures, seminars and attend workshops by great spiritual leaders and yoga masters
Yoga Kum1bha has invited some of the greatest masters of Yoga, legendary spiritual leaders and speakers from across the globe, giving its participants a once in a lifetime opportunity to listen to all the esteemed guests at one place. Series of lectures, seminars and workshops will be conducted by the masters to enlighten the guests and help them reform their spiritual paths. Such a congregation of all divine personalities at a single place is undoubtedly the rarest of the rare occasions to imbibe knowledge, grow and prosper on the path of spirituality for the devotees.
- 4. Provision of vegan/vegetarian hygienic meals
The Yoga Kumbha camp will provide its guests with the mostly deliciously cooked, organic and vegan food. The nutritious meal provided will be satvik in all forms, thereby being freshly cooked and easy to digest. Hygiene will always be the prime concern in the satvik kitchen and some of the well-experienced and renowned cooks will be taking care of all the meals.
- 5. An environment to learn, grow and prosper during the largest gathering on earth
The Yoga Kumbha camp will provide all its guests a golden opportunity to experience and live the month long celebration of faith in the most unique way possible. It will provide the guests an environment to learn, grow and prosper in their spiritual journeys and the quest to finding their true self. A chance to live the journey called life in the most beautiful way possible, away from all the worries of life and worldly pleasures, our guests will get the opportunity to experience the yogic lifestyle. They will connect with some of the most divine people on earth and feel the eruption of volcano of positive vibes in their surroundings which is bound to leave them in a state of bliss.
It is a gathering that the world will remember and coming generations will wait for it to happen again.
Gain points:
- 1. The effect of positive aura
Every Kumbh witnesses the congregation comprising of various saints, priests, ash-covered naga sadhus, mahants, mahamandaleshwars, shankaracharyas, spiritual leaders and devotees from all over the world. With such a mass-attending the divine event of faith, the energy levels of that place increase to its peak, filling the whole environment with the positive aroma. Such a magnanimous cluster of positivity is powerful enough to destroy any negativity and protect the gathering. No negative power in the world can affect such a sacred festival in any manner. This can also be proved by the fact that except for stampede, no other major mishap has occurred during all of the Kumbh Melas that have been celebrated till date.
- 2. The astrological significance
The dates of the Maha Kumbha are determined in accordance with scientific methods which majorly include the planetary positions. Ujjain is one of the most ancient and holy places on earth and the Kumbh Mela occurs here on the banks of river Kshipra when the Sun is in the zodiac sign Aries and Jupiter is in the Leo. “Leo” means Simha or the Lion in Sanskrit, the Ujjain Kumbh Mela is often called as Simhastha Kumbh. This time is astrologically the most auspicious time and perfect to explore the spiritual side of life.
- 3. The scientific reason behind the largest festival of faith
The position of different planet that have effect on the water and air of our planet earth. At certain planetary positions, the positive energy levels of that particular place during a particular time, increases to its peak, thereby providing a perfect atmosphere for the spiritual growth and enlightenment.
- 4. Meeting all the great saints and legendary human beings at one place
The grand festival gives a person a golden opportunity to meet some of the greatest saints from all over the world. From Shankaracharyas to naga sadhus, the Kumbha Mela visitors get this chance of being in their company. Many holy people can be spotted just at the time of Kumbha Mela among the general public. All the other times, they are either meditating in dense jungles or at caves in Himalayas.
- 5. The spiritual benefits of holy dip
As per the ancient hindu mythology, the Maha Kumbh Mela is the only time and place when human beings get a golden opportunity to get rid of all the sins they have done in the past. It is believed that the one who takes a dip at the holy banks of the river at Kumbh, can achieve Nirvana or Moksha i.e get free from the cycle of birth and rebirth. According to the history, Ujjain, Nasik, Allahabad and Haridwar are the four places where the drops of amrut or the elixir of immortality fell on earth from the kumbh (pitcher) when the gods and demons were struggling to acquire the nectar of immortality. It is indeed one of the rarest opportunities for human beings that can liberate them from all their pain and sufferings and lead them towards salvation.
- 6. Panchkroshi yatra benefits
With this parikrama of the holy city of Ujjain, the pilgrims actually perform the parikrama of all the eighty-four Mahadevas. This can get them rid of the eighty-four lakh yonis. Some worshippers can also be seen assembling stones alongside the road. This is another ancient ritual believed to bless the devotees with splendid homes in their next birth. Millions of devotees travel with complete devotion and dedication for around 24 km on foot daily, in the month of May-June where the summer is at its extreme. Such is the magic of the Yatra, that even in scorching heat the devotees keep walking with a smile without any sign of fatigue on their face. This year the divine Panchkroshi Yatra is coinciding with Simhastha and will be held from 1st to 6th May 2016. Due to this fact its significance further increases.
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- 7. Witnessing largest and the most diverse human gathering on the face of earth
- 8. Spiritual growth
Just the bathing ritual at the Kumbha will not impart an individual salvation. One needs to get into certain spiritual practices in order to experience the divine power. Due to its own astrological significance, it is believed that performing spiritual practices during the Kumbha Mela can benefit a person thousand times more than performing the same practices at any other place and time.
- 9. Finding your inner self
Due to the effect of movement of pious waves of Apatattva (Absolute water principle), any individual attending the holy festival will experience the detoxification of his mind, body and soul. His/her actions will automatically get converted into good Karma. It is believed that during the time of Kumbha Mela, many deities are active around the earth's orbit and thus our every spiritual practice reaches them in no time and we receive their holy blessings.
- 10. Once in a lifetime experience
It is indeed a golden opportunity to experience such a spectacular celebration with such great spiritual leaders assembled at one place. Such a grand festival, therefore, gives everyone a chance to get enlightened and move forward in their spiritual journey to find their true self. All that we take from this festival of faith is just perfect bliss.