Kumbh Mela Haridwar 2010

Kumbh Mela Haridwar 2010

The glorious history of the Kumbh Mela dates back to the time of gods and demons. During the Vedic period, an agreement was made between Gods and demons over the matter of Samudramanthan, wherein both of the groups were working together in the churning process of the milky ocean to attain the pot filled with immortal nectar (amrit). On the emergence of the pious pot, demons showed their real intentions and ran away with the pot that ultimately led to a war between them and deities. The war continued for 12 days and 12 nights (considered equivalent to 12 human years). During the war, drops of nectar fell at four different places (Prayag, Haridwar, Nashik and Ujjain). Later, these places were started treating as pious and venue for organizing the mela.

Significance of the Pious Ritual

According to the Hindu vedas and purans, the significance of the mela lies in the fact that visiting the gathering is a way to attain liberation from the endless suffering of existence and to merge with the Brahmans.

Brahma Purana and Vishnu Purana state that bathing in month of Magh at Prayag or Sangam (Allahabad) is equal to millions of Ashvamedha rituals. Moreover, the bathing ritual is itself equal to circumambulating the earth one million times. The Kumbh Mela bathing ritual also washes away sins of several generations.

Upcoming Kumbh Mela in

Haridwar: Snan Dates

• 1. 14 January 2010 (Thursday) - Makar Sankranti Snan - First Snan (bath)
• 2. 15 January 2010 (Friday) - Mauni Amavasya and Surya Grahan (Solar Eclipse) - Second Snan
• 3. 20 January 2010 (Wed) - Basant Panchmi Snan - Third snan
• 4. 30 January 2010 (Saturday) - Magh Purnima Snan - Fourth Snan
• 5. 12 February 2010 (Friday) - Maha Shivratri - Pratham Shahi Snan - First Royal Bath
• 6. 15 March 2010 (Monday) - Somvati Amavasya - Dvitya Shahi snan - Second Royal Bath
• 7. 24 March 2010 (Wednesday) - Ram Navmi - Fifth Snan
• 8. 30 March 2010 (Tuesday) - Chaitra purnima snan
• 9. 14 April 2010 (Wednesday) - Baisakhi - Pramukh Shahi Sanan
• 10. 28 April 2010 (Wednesday) - Shakh Purnima - snan

Lucrative Offers from Indian Travel Packages

We at Holiddays Planner India are pioneers in the tourism sector, with focus on promoting the cultural heritage of India. Our tour packages for Kumbh Mela have been designed keeping the taste of the traveler and budgetary considerations in mind.

We have planned out latest tour packages for the visitors to experience the real feel of the world's largest Hindu gathering. Some of the highlights of

our currently designed tour packages are:

Package Tours - You think of a tour, w

e've thought of a package for it ... and all of these are designed carefully with every detail worked out. It doesn't make a difference whether you are a group traveler or an individual one; we pay equal attention to every need. We also pay heed to your budg

etary constraints without compromising on the quality front. What's more, if you don't find a tour that appeals to you then you can design your own tour and we'll arrange it accordingly. Isn't that wonderful?

Cab/Car rentals - The car and coach rental services provided by us give traveler a smooth feeling about the tour. We make every effort to eradicate any possibility of hassle occurring in the tours.

Hotel Reservations - We search and find accommodation that suits the preferences of the clients. All this because we realize that a single glitch may overshad

ow an otherwise pleasant tour.

Air Ticketing- We are constantly engaged in imparting our services to the travelers and thus make it a point of offering them with a luxuriant traveling experience. Be it air tickets or Visa or other Passport formalities, the vast network of tourism professionals that we have at our disposable, take care of everything.

Itinerary

Day 01: Arrival Delh i- Haridwar (205 kms. 6 hrs)

Moring on arrival at the Airport / Railway Station, meet our representative "WELCOME" than drive to Haridwar on arrival Check in at the Hotel, evening Arti at Har Ki Peri, overnight stay at the Hotel.

Day 02: Haridwar

Morning Ganga Arti at Har ki Peri, day free for leisure, evening Holy Ganga Arti at Har Ki Peri, overnight stay at the Hotel.

Day 03: Haridwar - Rishikesh (24 Kms.)

Morning after breakfast, drive to Rishikesh on arrival check in at the hotel, than visit Laxman Jhoola, Ram Jhoola, Triveni Ghat, Evening Holy Ganga Arti, overnight stay at the Hotel.

Day 04: Rishikesh - Delhi - Departure

Morning after breakfast, drive back to Delhi on arrival direct transfer to Airport / Railway station to catch the flight / Train for your Home.

Tour and Service End

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About Pushkar Fair

In the month of Kartik each year, Pushkar in Rajasthan becomes a colorful spectacle of one of the largest cattle festival in Asia. You will find a number of camels, horses, cows, mules, goats and sheep accompanying their masters to participate in the Pushkar Festival. A seven-day festival is dedicated absolutely to these animals. Pushkar becomes bright with various hues of colors. Thousands of men in large bright turbans, women in pleated ghagaras wearing armful of colorful bangles and bejeweled and children complete the setting of the fair.

The first five days of the festival in Rajasthan are for selling and purchase of the cattle. The prospective buyer is attracted by the owner by praising his animal with long list of virtues. The buying and selling may take some time because of long-drawn negotiations and bargains. Once the deal is over, the animals are groomed and ornamented at the festival particularly the camel. After shearing and scrubbing, the camel is costumed and sometimes even perfumed Handmade saddles, long strings of cowries, beads, colorful saddle-straps, embroidered back-covers and boots are available for the camels.

Pushkar Fair is also the time when women folk go on a shopping spree. The stalls of trinkets, silver ornaments, chains, nose rings, necklaces, waistbands, anklets, toe rings, hairpins and the ivory bangles worn from wrist to shoulder are what attract the women in the fair. Garments of patchwork and tie-n-dye are also on sale. Tattoo stalls are also crowded with women getting a permanent beauty spot on their body.

The last two days of the fair are for fun and merriment. Various events are organized in which camels participate like the Camel Races, Musical Chairs for Camels, Camel Beauty Contest and Laadoo Oonth are to name a few.

The Pushkar Festival in Rajasthan comes to an end on the day of Kartik Purnima. On this day, ritual bathing on the ghats of Pushkar Lake begins at dawn. There is quite a scramble for getting a place on the bathing ghats. The water of the Pushkar Lake is believed to possess curative powers and also wash away the sins of a lifetime. After holy dip, the devotees visit the Brahma temple to get his blessings.

Pushkar Festival in Rajasthan attracts a large number of tourist from India and abroad. The entire village is arranged in blocks of tents named after the famous dances of Rajasthan and each having its own identity.

Pushkar cattle and camel fair is a grand event in which around 2 lakh people participate. The fair is held on the Kartik Purnima day falling in the month of October or November and continues for around five days. During the Pushkar fair villagers from different villages gather at Pushkar along with their camels and cattle.

Livestock owners from all over the country meet at Pushkar to trade these important animal species. The fair at Pushkar involves not only livestock trading but also pilgrimage and festivities

It is also the time when Hindu devotees come here to take a dip in the holy waters of the sacred Pushkar Lake, to wash away their sins. At this time of the year the Pushkar town of Rajasthan become vibrant with color and sound all around.

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Diwali in history

The history of Diwali is replete with legends and these legends are moored to the stories of Hindu religious scriptures, mostly the Puranas. Though the central theme of all legends point out to the classic truth of the victory of the good over the evils, the mode of their presentation and the characters differ. Diwali, being the festival of lights, lighting the lamp of knowledge within us means to understand and reflect upon the significant purpose of each of the five days of festivities and to bring those thoughts in to the day to day lives.

The five day of Diwali
The first day of Diwali is called Dhanvantari Triodasi or Dhanwantari Triodasi also called Dhan Theras. The second day of Diwali is called Narak Chaturdasi. It is the fourteenth lunar day (thithi) of the dark forthnight of the month of Kartik and the eve of Diwali. On this day Lord Krishna destroyed the demon Narakasur and made the world free from fear. The third day of Diwali is the actual Diwali. This is the day when worship for Mother Lakshmi is performed. On the fourth day of Diwali, Goverdhan Pooja is performed. The fifth day of the diwali is called Bhratri Dooj. It is a day dedicated to sisters.

Hindu Mythology
The Story of Rama and Sita : Lord Rama was a great warrior King who was exiled by his father Dashratha, the King of Ayodhya, along with his wife Sita and his younger brother Lakshman, on his wife's insistence. Lord Rama returned to his Kingdom Ayodhya after 14 years of exile, in which he put an end to the demon Ravana of Lanka, who was a great Pundit, highly learned but still evil dominated his mind. After this victory of Good over Evil, Rama returned to Ayodhya. In Ayodhya, the people welcomed them by lighting rows of clay lamps. So, it is an occasion in honor of Rama's victory over Ravana; of Truth's victory over Evil.

The Story of King Bali and Vamana Avatar(the Dwarf)

The other story concerns King Bali, who was a generous ruler. But he was also very ambitious. Some of the Gods pleaded Vishnu to check King Bali's power. Vishnu came to earth in the form of a Vamana(dwarf) dressed as priest. The dwarf approached King Bali and said "You are the ruler of the three worlds: the Earth, the world above the skies and the underworld. Would you give me the space that I could cover with three strides?" King Bali laughed. Surely a dwarf could not cover much ground, thought the King, who agreed to dwarf's request. At this point, the dwarf changed into Vishnu and his three strides covered the Earth, the Skies and the whole Universe! King Bali was send to the underworld. As part of Diwali celebrations, some Hindus remember King Bali.

The Defeat of Narkasur by Lord Krishna

Lord Vishnu in his 8th incarnation as Krishna destroyed the demon Narkasura, who was causing great unhappiness amongst the people of the world. Narkasura was believed to be a demon of filth, covered in dirt. He used to kidnap beautiful young women and force them to live with him. Eventually, their cries for rescue were heard by Vishnu, who came in the form of Krishna. First, Krishna had to fight with a five-headed monster who guarded the demon's home. Narkasura hoped that his death might bring joy to others. Krishna granted his request and the women were freed. For Hindus, this story is a reminder that good can still come out of evil.

Krishna and The Mountain

In the village of Gokula, many years ago, the people prayed to the God Indra. They believed that Indra sent the rains, which made their crops, grow. But Krishna came along and persuaded the people to worship the mountain Govardhan, because the mountain and the land around it were fertile. This did not please Indra. He sent thunder and torrential rain down on the village. The people cried to Krishna to help. Krishna saved the villagers by lifting the top of the mountain with his finger. The offering of food to God on this day of Diwali is a reminder to Hindus of the importance of food and it is a time for being thankful to God for the bounty of nature.

Sikh Festival Diwali
In Sikh perspective, Diwali is celebrated as the return of the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Ji from the captivity of the city, Gwalior. To commemorate his undying love for Sikhism, the towns people lit the way to, Harmandhir Sahib (referred to as the Golden Temple), in his honour.

Jain Festival Diwali
Among the Jain festivals, Diwali is one of the most important one. For on this occasion we celebrate the Nirvana of Lord Mahavira who established the dharma as we follow it. Lord Mahavira was born as Vardhamana on Chaitra Shukla 13th in the Nata clan at Khattiya-kundapura, near Vaishali. He obtained Kevala Gyana on Vishakha Shukla 10 at the Jambhraka village on the banks of Rijukula river at the age of 42.

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Diwali Festival in India

Diwali is one of the biggest festival of Hindus, celebrated with great enthusiasm and happiness in India. The festival is celebrated for five continuous days, where the third days is celebrated as the main Diwali festival or 'Festival of lights'. Different colorful varieties of fireworks are always associated with this festival. On this auspicious day, people light up diyas and candles all around their house. They perform Laxmi Puja in the evening and seek divine blessings of Goddess of Wealth. The festival od Diwali is never complete without exchange of gifts. People present diwali gifts to all near and dear ones.

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