Latest news with #MaghiPurnima
South China Morning Post
18-02-2025
- South China Morning Post
Kumbh Mela: one Hong Kong teen's experience at the pilgrimage and festival in India
Kumbh Mela is an enthralling Hindu festival and pilgrimage celebrating spiritual heritage and diversity. Given that the Maha Kumbh Mela, in particular, only occurs once every 144 years, my family and I felt compelled to travel from Hong Kong to immerse ourselves in this tradition and experience in India. This year, the Kumbh Mela began on January 13 and will end on February 26. It is expected to bring together more than 450 million people across 45 days in Prayagraj in northern India. Here are five reflections I had about this unique festival and my once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage. What is the Kumbh Mela? Perhaps the largest human gathering in the world, the Kumbh Mela is marked by a ritual dip in water. The word kumbha means 'pitcher, jar, pot' in Sanskrit, while mela refers to a festival or gathering. It is rooted in Hindu texts and traditions, based on the legend of a pot of amrita – nectar of immortality – that spilled at four places across India now sacred to the event. Pilgrims take a holy dip in Sangam, the confluence of Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers, on the occasion of Maghi Purnima during the Maha Kumbh Mela festival in Prayagraj on February 12, 2025. Photo: AFP The four major pilgrimage sites recognised as the Kumbh Melas are: • Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad) in Uttar Pradesh, where the Ganges-Yamuna-Sarasvati rivers meet • Haridwar in Uttarakhand, northern India, on the right bank of the Ganges • Nashik-Trimbak in Maharastra, western India, on the banks of the river Godavari • Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, central India, on the eastern bank of the Shipra river Those visiting bathe in these rivers, hoping it will wash their sins away and bring them closer to spiritual salvation. Visiting as a teenager This year, the mela was situated around the Triveni Sangam – an auspicious point where three sacred rivers meet. The lack of easily accessible internet connection for visitors pushed us to turn to nature and our surroundings during the long walks to the rivers. Attending as a teen was an opportunity to learn more about Hinduism, one of the oldest principal religions still practised today. I witnessed the extraordinary power of faith, drawing tens of millions of people to a single location. Seeing people of all ages and backgrounds united for a common purpose was beautiful. The journey also showed me poverty beyond what I knew in Hong Kong, highlighting the challenges and arduous lives many endure. It also made me reflect on struggles and material possessions. Heer's father took her to talk to a Naga Sadhu, devotees or ascetics who can be found wandering by the Triveni Sangam. Photo: Heer Donda Making connections We walked more than 15km outdoors each day to reach the holy rivers, vastly different from our easier daily lives. Visiting the Kumbh Mela, even for a few days, encouraged me to connect with the world and people around me, instilling a deeper appreciation for others and the planet. Detaching from the modern world in this way also made me more reflective, connecting with myself and contemplating my values and feelings. Staying safe As this mela is one of the world's largest religious gatherings, the thought of being stuck amid a melee of people trying to reach one destination can be daunting. Last month, at least 30 people died in a stampede on one of the festival's holiest days. Heer and her family found themselves in the middle of a huge crowd on January 29, one of the most auspicious days. Photo: Heer Donda Here are some things you can keep in mind: • Avoid crowded routes, especially on the auspicious dates when most people choose to visit. • It is also crucial to keep your valuables secure in a shoulder bag with a zip to prevent them from falling or getting lost. • Finally, stay hydrated at all times since temperatures in the day can reach 30 degrees Celsius or above. Preserving culture As technology advances, we begin to forget our older customs. Millions gathered for the Maha Kumbh, a noteworthy reminder to hold on to our traditions and history amid a rapidly changing and expanding world. I hope other communities will be inspired to preserve the richness of their heritage and culture.
The Guardian
12-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Firecrackers, robot dogs and Shakira: photos of the day
A performer prepares traditional giant effigies called ondel-ondel during the Cap Go Meh festival to mark the end of lunar new year celebrations Photograph: Dita Alangkara/AP Government officials shower flower petals from a helicopter on to pilgrims gathered at the Sangam, on Maghi Purnima (full moon day) during the Maha Kumbh festival Photograph: Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP A view of the Bosphorus during a foggy morning Photograph: Isa Terli/Anadolu/Getty Images Elon Musk, holding his son X, speaks to the press in the Oval Office of the White House during a meeting with President Trump Photograph: ABACA/REX/Shutterstock Greenpeace members take hammers to an art installation called Breaking Point: Untold Stories of Climate Loss and Damage, that they set up outside Shell's headquarters, displaying the once-cherished belongings of Filipino communities that were wrecked by climate-charged typhoons in the Philippines Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian Rescue workers at the site of a Russian missile strike which damaged a business centre, warehouses and a house, killing one person and injuring others Photograph: Roman Petushkov/GlobalTrucks carrying humanitarian aid enter from Egypt Photograph: Abdel Kareem Hana/AP A woman holds a child as people dismantle tents to salvage materials in a refugee camp after the M23 armed group ordered them to vacate the camp and go back to their villages and towns Photograph: Nadaa Kahashy/EPA Women hand-weaving at a traditional Kurdish carpet shop Photograph: AFP/Getty Images Japan's Kaori Sakamoto competes in the women's single skating short programme at the Harbin 2025 Asian Winter Games Photograph: Jade Gao/AFP/Getty Images Shakira performs during the worldwide launch of her Las Mujeres ya no Lloran tour at Nilton Santos stadium Photograph: AFP/Getty Images Models pose on the runway at the Thom Browne show during New York fashion week Photograph:A common starling on the west coast of Anatolia. The songbird, known for the white spots that appear on their feathers, have beaks that change colour in winter and summer Photograph: Mahmut Serdar Alakus/Anadolu/Getty Images Snow covers the north lawn of the White House Photograph: Ting Shen/AFP/Getty Images Spectators watch as robot dogs draped in lion costumes perform at the Lantern festival, marking the end of the Lunar new year Photograph: Reuters A collection of steel rods outside a metal fabrication plant. The country's acting president has vowed to protect local firms after Donald Trump signed off on 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium imports Photograph: Anthony Wallace/AFP/Getty Images A volunteer from the conservation and restoration programme at the Universitat Politècnica de València works on restoring family photos damaged during last year's flash floods Photograph: Bernat Armangué/AP A mahout lights a cigarette after finishing washing an elephant Photograph: Akila Jayawardena/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock People wear protective clothing as firecrackers explode during the Yanshui beehive fireworks festival Photograph: Ann Wang/Reuters
