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O maior encontro religioso do mundo - Maha Kumbh Mela infographic
A infografia mostra aspectos do Festival Kumbh Mela.
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EN AR ES PT

RELIGIÃO

World’s largest religious gathering - Maha Kumbh Mela

By Phil Bainbridge

January 13, 2025 - February 26, 2025 - São esperados mais de 400 milhões de visitantes em Prayagraj, Uttar
Pradesh para a Maha Kumbh Mela – Grande Festival do Jarro – na
confluência dos míticos rios Jamuna, Ganges e Saraswati.

The Kumbh Mela is a series of ritual baths by Hindu sadhus, or holy men, and other pilgrims at the confluence of three sacred rivers that dates back to at least medieval times. Pilgrims bathe in the river believing it cleanses them of their sins and ends their process of reincarnation.

The story of the kumbh or pitcher refers to the churning of the cosmic ocean by gods and demons in Hindu mythology in order to obtain amrita, the nectar of immortality. This represents the churning of our minds as we search for understanding. The amrita, in a golden pitcher, was pursued by the demons, as they fought for 12 divine days - equivalent to 12 human years - for the treasure, spilling four drops to the earth, one in each of the mela towns: Pryagraj, Hardiwar, Ujjain and Nashik..

The event, which UNESCO added to its list of intangible human heritage in 2017, rotates among four pilgrimage sites every three years on a date prescribed by astrology. Every 12 years the event is designated a Maha, or great, festival, which is more auspicious and attracts even greater numbers of visitors.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 13/01/2025; STORY: Graphic News; PICTURES: Getty Images
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