Magh Mela is a festival in India.
In the city of Allahabad, a religious festival is held every
year during the lunar month of Magh (January–February).
Magh is one of the months in the Hindu festival calendar
when bathing (snana) in holy rivers is highly valued.
This is especially noteworthy since Allahabad is located at
the confluence of two holy rivers, the Ganges and the Yamuna.
Pilgrims put up an encampment near the confluence during
this month, which turns into a vibrant religious center.
Pilgrims follow a stringent and disciplined religious life
throughout their stay.
A morning bath, followed by gift-giving (dana) and prayer; a
limited diet; and nights spent singing hymns (kirtan) and listening to
religious talks are all part of the routine.
Some pilgrims even take a stringent kalpavas vow to stay for
the whole month, which includes a strict austere lifestyle.
This celebration attracts around a million pilgrims.
Attendance grows every twelfth year, when the Magh Mela
becomes the Allahabad Kumbha Mela.
In 1989, an estimated fifteen million pilgrims visited on
just one day, with millions more arriving throughout the month.
You may also want to read more about Hinduism here.
Be sure to check out my writings on religion here.
