MAHAMAHAM FESTIVAL
AT
KUMBAKONAM
Mahamaham is a Hindu Kumbh
Mela festival celebrated every 12 years in a town called Kumbakonam in Tamil
Nadu, India. Hindus consider taking a holy dip at the Mahamaham tank on the day
of Mahamaham as sacred. The last Mahamaham was celebrated on March 6, 2004,
with people from various places taking the holy dip in the Mahamaham tank.
The Masimaham or Mahamaham
is an annual event that occurs in the Tamil month of Masi (February-March) in
the star of Magam in Kumbakanom, which is an ancient, beautiful and holy place.
This once in a 12 year
gala event held from February 13-22nd of 2016. Vast crowds of more than forty
six lakh pilgrims gathered at Kumbakonam had a dip in the tank, along with
saints and philosophers.
The festival is celebrated
at an interval of around eleven to twelve years. The festival takes place at a
particular time as determined by astrological position: during the full moon of
the Tamil month of Maasi (February-March) when the conjunction of the moon with
the lunar asterism (Magha Nakshatra) and when Jupiter is in the constellation
of Leo.
This Festival occurs when
the sun is in the Zodiacal sign of Aquarius(Khumbha), Jupiter transits
Leo(Simha) and the Moon is in conjunction with the constellation Maham.
Generally all the these astronomical combination take place on a full moon day
of the Tamil Month of Masi(Solar Kumbha Month) i.e. either in the latter half
of February or in the first of March.
People are washing their
sins on the holy rivers like Ganges, Yamuna, Sarasvati River, Sarayu, Godavari
River, Mahanadi River, Narmada River, Pavoshnl and Kaveri River. These rivers
wanted to get rid of their sins and approached Lord Brahma.
Lord Brahma advised these
rivers if you meet together and take bath in Mahamaham would wash off all the
sins. Hence, during the time of Mahamaham festival, it is also believed that
taking bath in the holy stream of water from the famous rivers like Ganges,
Yamuna, Sarasvati River, Sarayu, Godavari River, Mahanadi River, Narmada River,
Pavoshnl and Kaveri River, which are mixed together in Mahamaham tank, would
get rid of sins according to Hindu religion.
By having a holy dip in
Varanasi, one can be relieved of all sins committed in holy place sand whereas
sins committed in Varanasi can be washed off by a holy dip in Mahamaham Tank.
Sins committed in Kumbakonam can be washed off in Kumbakonam itself by a holy
dip in Mahamaham Tank.
Tamil Nadu Government made
elaborate arrangements for the successful conduct of the Mahamaham. Tourism
Department had put up Tourist Information Centres at Railway Station and Bus
Stand to assist the tourists. A special booklet on Kumbakonam was also
published and distributed to the Tourists.
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