Kumbh Mela

Naga Sadhus are the most important features of Kumbh Mela are furious and exotic, covered in ash, matted hairs and are known as preserver of faith. Naga Akhadas (where naga sadhu gathers for this occasion) are the most important historical figures of Kumbha Mela. Naga sadhus are people who made their living as mercenary soldier and traders. Apart from the akhadas, attendees at the Kumbh Mela come from all sections of Hindu religious life, ranging from sadhus (holy men), who remain naked year-round or practice the most severe physical discipline, to hermits, who leave their isolation only for these pilgrimages, and even to silk-clad teachers using the latest technology. Kumbh Mela.

Info About Kumbh Mela

Kumbha (Kumbha means pot) Mela is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage that takes place at the following four locations of India
Prayag (near the city of Allahabad, in the state of Uttar Pradesh) at the confluence of three rivers Ganga (Ganges), Yamuna and Saraswati
Haridwar (in the state of Uttar Pradesh) where the river Ganga enters the plains from Himalayas
Ujjain (in Madhya Pradesh), on the banks of Shipra river, and
Nasik (in Maharashtra) on the banks of Godavari river.

Kumbh Mela

Kumbh Mela is the largest gathering of people for a religious purpose in the world. Millions of people gather on different places for this auspicious occasion. Kumbha is a Sanskrit word for Pitcher, sometimes referred to as the Kalasha, it is also a zodiac sign in Indian astrology for Aquarius, the sign under which the festival is celebrated, while Mela means 'a gathering' or 'a meet', or simply a fair.
Kumbh Mela in Hinduism is celebrated four times every 12 years, the site of the observance rotating between four pilgrimage places on four sacred rivers: at Haridwar on the Ganges River, at Ujjain on the Shipra, at Nasik on the Godavari, and at Prayag (Allahabad) at the confluence of the Ganges, Jamuna (popularly known as Yamuna), and the mythical River Sarasvati. Famous ancient traveller, Hiuen Tsiang of China, was the first to mention Kumbha Mela in his diary. His diary mentions the celbration of 75 days of hindu month of Magha (January-February), which witnessed half a million devotee including sadhus, common man, rich & famous & kings. For each site Kumbh Mela comes in every 12 years. Each site’s celebration is based on particular zodiacal positions of the Sun, the Moon, and Jupiter, the holiest time occurring at the exact moment these zodiacal conditions are fulfilled. Bathing at this moment is believed to generate the greatest religious merit, but the Kumbh time is regarded as being so holy that other bathing days are designated weeks or even months before and after this climactic time.

Mangal - Folk Songs of Garhwal, Puja Folk Songs

'Mangal' songs are sung during marriage ceremonies. These songs are basically 'Puja songs' sung alongwith the Purohits who keep enchanting 'Shlokas' in Sanskrit according to the Shastras during the marriage ceremony.
These songs are connected with the Puja (worship) of family deities. There are other Puja songs connected with 'Tantra' and 'Mantras ' to exorcise evil spirits from human beings.

huded - Folk Songs of Garhwal

These folk songs depict the suffering of a woman due to the separation from her husband. The woman curses the circumstances in which she is separated generally when the husband is away looking for a job. 'Laman' another folk song is sung on special occasions expressing the sacrifice that he is willing to do for his beloved. 'Pawada' also belongs to this category of folk songs where separation is felt when the husband has gone to the battlefield.

Jagars - Folk Dances of Kumaon and Garhwal

Jaggar falls in the category of ghost and spiritual worship, in the form of a folk song or at times combined with dances. Sometimes, Jaggar may also be in the form of Puja folk songs and are sung in .honour of the various gods and goddesses. The instruments used are a big Drum (Dhol), a smaller Drum (Damua), Hurka and Thall.
There are more than 50 ballads on indigenous spirits, gods and goddesses, fairies and ghosts, the most famous Ganganath, Gorilla, and Bholanath. The chief priest, Gantava, fixes the time on whicl1 a jagar is to be formed. Around the burning fire, in a circle, are members of the village or family-suddently, like a magician the Das, or singer, slowly, and with measured drum beats, starts to invoke the spirit. Coupled with his singing, punctuated by the exotic drum-beats, and the shrill sound of the thali', the crescendo, builds up and drives the listeners into a trance. In a fit of ectasy they leap, shout, tremble and j'ump, sometimes tearing off their clothes. As they move around the fire, the Das starts to address them by the name of the spirit or spirits involved and asks the spirits, the questions that are sought by some families and the remedies. Usually the spirit demands a sacrifice of a goat or a bird. The spirit is sent back to its Himalayan abode and the spell breaks-the dance and the ceremony is over.

Chounphula and Jhumeila - Folk Songs of Garhwal

'Chounphula' & Jhumeila' form part of seasonal dances which are performed from 'Basant Panchami' to 'Sankranti' or 'Baisakhi'. 'Jhumeila' is sometimes mixed but is usually restricted to women. 'Chounphula' is a spinning dance performed by all sections of the community, at night, in groups by men and women. 'Chounphula' folk songs are composed for the appreciation of nature during various occasions. Chounphula, Jhumeila and Daryola folk songs all derive their names from the concerned folk dances.

Chhura - Folk Songs of Garhwal

'Chhura' folk songs are sung among shepherds in the form of advice given by the old to youngsters, having learnt it out of their experience, particularly in grazing sheep and goats.

Chhopati - Folk Songs of Garhwal

These are the folk songs popular in Rawain-Jaunpur area of Tehri Garhwal. 'Chhopati' are the love songs sung between the men and women in the form of questions and answers.

Bajuband - Folk Songs of Garhwal

Bajuband - Folk Songs of Garhwal

This is a folk song of love and sacrifice between the shepherds. It is a love dialogue between the man and woman or between a boy and girl which is sung in the form of a folk song

About Pahari Folk Songs

Folk Songs of Uttarakhand had its root in the lap of nature. It has seen various phases of growth and has undergone lots of transformation during the course of time. These songs are primarily sung on various occasions like ceremonies, festivals etc. It speaks about various festivals, religious traditions, folk stories and simple life of the people of Uttarakhand.
Shri Mohan Upreti, Shri Gopal Babu Goswami, Shri Narendra Singh Negi ji are the people who have not only worked for the improvisation of these songs but have also given an identity to the Folk Songs of Uttarakhand. Shri Mohan Upreti is a personality associated with Kumaoni Folk Music and is well known for his Nanda Devi Jagar & Rajula Malu Shahi Ballad. Shri Gopal Babu Goswami has great Kumaoni song "Bedu Pako Baro Masa" to his credit. Similarly Shri Narendra Singh Negi is considered to be the voice of Garhwal.
Other singers represnting Uttarakhand now days are Chander Singh Rahi, Fauji Lalit Mohan Joshi, Heera Singh Rana, Kalpana Chauhan, Meena Rana, Anuradha Nirala, Anil Bisht, Pritam Bharatwan and Gajendra Rana. Bajuband, Basanti, Chhopati, Chhura, Chounphula and Jhumeila, Jagars, Khuded, Mangal, Puja Folk Songs are some of the folk songs sung in various occasions in Uttarakhand. These songs are sung with musical instruments like dhol, damoun, turri, ransingha, dholki, daur, thali, bhankora and masakbhaja. Tabla and harmonium are also used, but to a lesser extent.

Akhara Parishad upset with Swami Yatindranand's announcement

Dehra Dun: Upset over Mahamandaleshwar of Joona Akhara Swami Yatindranand's announcement to lead Dalits to Ganga for royal bath during Mahakumbh, Akhara Parishad on Tuesday advised him not to play politics and said only Sadhus belonging to 13 Akharas have the right to take "Shahi Snan". No person or Sadhu other than those belonging to 13 Akharas has the right to take royal bath during Kumbh, said Mahant Gyan Das, President of Akhara Parishad, an umbrella organisation of all Akharas.
A Sadhu of any Akhara does not belong to any caste, Mahant Gyan Das said, adding Swami Yatindranand Giri is Mahamandaleshwar of Joona Akhara and is not expected to play politics over the issue.
Swami Yatindranand Giri, who contested Lok Sabha polls on BJP ticket last year, had recently announced that he would lead Dalits to take royal bath and also take Muslims to Har-Ki-Pauri, the main bathing ghat, during the four month- long mela.
He said Akhara Parishad would seriously discuss the issue in its next meeting on February 8 and indicated that a tough decision can be taken against Swami Giri.
Meanwhile, Swami Yatindranand Giri said he is firm on his decision to take Dalits for holy dip in river Ganga and said the day will not coincide with 'Royal Snan', when Sadhus of various Akharas take bath.

Tiwari reviews projects initiated by him in Uttarakhand

Dehradun: After lying low for about a month following his resignation from Andhra Pradesh Governor's post in the wake of a sex scandal, veteran Congress leader N D Tiwari has started reviewing projects initiated during his tenure as chief minister of Uttarakhand.
Tiwari, who denied his involvement in the entire sting episode, has decided to review all big projects which were initiated when he was the chief minister of the state as part of a political strategy, sources close to Tiwari told an agency. Tiwari, who is staying at his palatial house on Forest Research Institute campus -- allotted to him when he was chief minister in 2007 – on Tuesday visited sites of the Doon University and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Rishikesh and enquired about various works.
"Tiwari will bounce back but that all depends on the mood of Congress President Sonia Gandhi," said a congress leader.

Two die, 6 injured in accidents in Ramnagar

Ramnagar: Two persons died and half a dozen injured in different road accidents in the city during past 24 hours in Ramnagar.
According to the official sources, a person Rohit Verma (20 yrs) died after being crushed by a speeding bus late last night. He was appointed in water supply department on contract basis. He was going to his home by his Moped in the late evening. A private bus crushed him at Chorpani village. Driver of bus has been arrested by police.
In a different incident, a two year old child fell in a water tank at his home and drowned. His parents admitted him at city government hospital, but doctors declared him brought dead.
In yet another accident this evening, a tractor overturned near Garjiya Temple. 6 persons were injured as a result. Failure of the brakes was stated to be the cause of accident. Tractor driver Dinesh, resident of Mudapandey Moradabad, Seema Devi, Rajbhan Singh and Vishal, residents of Udaypuri Bandobasti, Ramnagar were admitted at city government hospital.

CM appreciates work done by ITBP

Dehradun: The IG of ITBP MC Bhatt called on the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank at the Secretariat here today. He told the CM that many battalions of ITBP had been posted in the remotest of the regions of Uttarakhand, like, Joshimath, Gauchar, Matali, Mahidanda, etc. Besides, 6 troops of ITBP were posted along the India-China frontier. He demanded for an exemption in VAT for ITBP canteens situated in various places of the State. He informed the CM that some other battalions of ITBP were likely to be posted in Uttarakhand in near future.
The CM said that the ITBP had been playing a very important role in disaster management besides protecting the borders of nation; and that the government was committed to extend all possible assistances and support to the ITBP. Utttarakhand was a land of the warriors and on an average at least one person from every family ws serving the nation either in the military or para-military services and many of them had made everyone in the state proud by sacrificing there lives for the sake of nation, the CM added further. The CM wished the ITBP Jawans all the best and hoped that they would continue serving the nation as ever.

Kumbh Mela police dedicatedly help devotees and tourists

Haridwar: Civil and Para Military Forces posted to ensure the famous Kumbh Mela proceeds calmly have been working round the clock saving lives and reuniting families at the crowded streets and river banks of Haridwar. DIG (Kumbh Mela) Alok Sharma presented a report today where he listed the instances of rescue and reunification by the police force. On the second day of Kumbh Mela on January 15, the police officers rescued three members of a family from drowning. Munni Devi, Meera Devi and Ramlal had come from Churu district in Rajasthan and were taking a dip in the Ganga at around 3 p.m. when Munni Devi slipped and was carried along with the current of the water. The other members attempted to pull her back but were also carried along with the current. Other people present at the site raised an alarm and called the police officers who rescued the three devotees from the river. In similar incidents, the police officers saved six lives in separate incidents on Janurary 20 that was the day of Basant Panchami and the third bath of the Kumbh. The officers on duty also reunited 19 devotees with their families. During a routine inspection of the guards at 2 p.m. on the same say by police ADG Rajendra Singh Samat, a Ravi Kumar from UP, who was praying on the Rodi bank of Ganga lost consciousness. The visitor was rushed to the hospital, where his condition stabilized after treatment. In all, the police officers have reunited a total of 328 people with their families and saved 17 people from drowning. DIG Sharma informed that several roads and routes had been diverted to accommodate the arrival of sadhus and AKHADAS for the Mela.

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