Kumbha (Kumbh) Mela Haridwar 2010
The 2010 Maha Kumbha (Kumbh) Mela will be held at Haridwar (Hara Dwar) in the foothills of the Himalayas
O Yudhishthira, the spot where Ganga rusheth past,
cleaving the foremost of mountains which is frequented
by Gandharvas and Yakshas and Rakshasas and Apsaras,
and inhabited by hunters, and Kinnaras, is called Gangadwara (Haridwar (Hara Dwar) )1
O King, Sanatkumara regardeth that spot visited by Brahmarshis,
as also the Tirtha Kanakhala (that is near to it), as sacred2
-The Mahabharata
Vana Parva (Tirtha-yatra Parva) Section 90
Haridwar (Hara Dwar) is regarded as one of the seven holiest places to the Indians. An ancient centre of pilgrimage, Haridwar has a lot of places to see, feel and experience. Haridwar is a city engulfed in ancient myths, legends and fables. The Holy river Ganga (Ganges) transverses the Himalayas to enter the Plains of North India for the first time at Haridwar (Hara Dwar) and this is what gave the city its ancient name, Gangadwára (the place where the Ganges descends to the plains)
Bathing here is considered to cleanse you off all your previous sins and bathing here on special occasions have additional merits like the Somavati Amavasya Snan, the Kavad Snan, the Makarasankranti Snan, the Kumbha (Kumbh) Snan, the Shahi Snan (Royal bath), Etc.
The Kumbha (Kumbh) Mela in 2010 also features four Shahi Snan’s for various Akhadas and Mutts (religious organizations and monasteries). It is believed that bathing on these days here at Haridwar (Hara Dwar) washes away one's sins facilitating the attainment of Moksha or Nirvana
