| Bansberia Kumbh Mela | |
|---|---|
  | |
| Status | active |
| Genre | Fair |
| Frequency | Every year |
| Venue | Banks of Hooghly River |
| Location(s) | Bansberia, West Bengal |
| Country | India |
| Participants | Akharas, pilgrims and merchants |
Bansberia Kumbh Mela, also known as Bansberia Tribeni Sangam Kumbha Mela, is a mela, or religious gathering, associated with Hinduism and held at the town Bansberia, West Bengal, India, at the Triveni Sangam, the confluence of the Hooghly, Saraswati, and the Jamuna river. [1] [2]
Tribeni, located in Bansberia of Hooghly district, is a historic and sacred site known as the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers. The tradition of organizing the Kumbh Mela during Makar Sankranti (Magh Sankranti) at this site existed for centuries. In Raghunandan Bhattacharya's Prayaschitta Tattva, Tribeni is referred to as the Prayag of the South. After the Gangasagar Mela, saints and sages would travel on foot to Tribeni to bathe in its holy waters. Tribeni, along with Saptagram, served as a center of education, culture, and trade. However, during Muslim rule and the British era, the temples and pilgrimage sites of Tribeni were destroyed, leading to the decline of the Kumbh Mela tradition. [3] In 1979, researcher Alan Morinis mentioned Tribeni's holy bathing in Sankranti in his research paper submitted to Oxford University. The mela is also referenced in Bengali literature. After 703 years, the Kumbh Mela was revived in Tribeni in 2023. [4] [5] [6]
Kumbh Mela is an important Hindu pilgrimage, celebrated approximately every 6 and 12 years, correlated with the partial or full revolution of Jupiter and representing the largest human gathering in the world.
Hugli-Chuchura, also known by its former names Chinsurah or Hooghly-Chinsurah, is a city of Hooghly district and the district headquarters of Hooghly division in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is one of the densely populated cities of West Bengal. It lies on the bank of Hooghly River, 35 km north of Kolkata, the state capital. It is located in the district of Hooghly and is home to the district headquarters. Chuchura houses the Commissioner of the Burdwan Range. The District Court building of Chinsurah is the longest building in West Bengal. It is a part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA).
Bansberia is a city and a municipality of Hooghly district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is about 45 km (28 mi) away from Kolkata, at the western end of the Iswar Gupta Setu (Kalyani-Bansberia) Bridge. It is a part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA). Bans Beria railway station is 4 km from Bandel Junction on the Bandel-Katwa Line.The area covered by two police stations - Chinsurah (W.no.1-4) and Mogra (W.no.5-22). The part of both police stations governed by Chandannagar Police Commissionerate. Kartik Puja is the famous festival of Bansberia. Bansberia also famous for its Kumbh Mela.
Bandel is a neighbourhood in the Hooghly district of the Indian state of West Bengal. It was founded by Portuguese settlers and falls under the jurisdiction of Chandernagore Police Commissionerate. It is a part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA). Bandel is a major rail junction station of Eastern Railway zone, and is 38 km from Howrah railway station. Sir James Brooke, the first White Rajah of the Kingdom of Sarawak was born here in 1803.
Sagar Island is an island in the Ganges delta, lying on the continental shelf of Bay of Bengal about 100 km south of Kolkata. This island forms the Sagar CD Block in Kakdwip subdivision of South 24 Parganas district in the Indian State of West Bengal. Although Sagar Island is a part of Sundarbans, it does not have any tiger habitation or mangrove forests or small river tributaries as is characteristic of the overall Sundarban delta. This island is a place of Hindu pilgrimage. Every year on the day of Makar Sankranti, hundreds of thousands of Hindus gather to take a holy dip at the confluence of river Ganges and Bay of Bengal and offer prayers (puja) in the Kapil Muni Temple. Kolkata Port Trust has a pilot station and a light house.
In Hindu tradition, Triveni Sangam is the confluence of three rivers that is also a sacred place, with a bath here said to flush away all of one's sins and free one from the cycle of rebirth.
Tribeni is a neighbourhood in Bansberia of Hooghly district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA).
Saptagram was an ancient major port, the chief city and sometimes capital of southern Bengal, in ancient and medieval times of Bengal, the location presently being in the Hooghly district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is about 4 km from Bandel, a major rail junction. By the early twentieth century, the place had dwindled to a group of insignificant huts. The port had to be abandoned because of the silting up and consequent drying of the Saraswati River.
Jirat is a census town located in Hooghly District in the Indian State of West Bengal.
Unlike some other religions, Hindus are not required to undertake pilgrimages during their lifetime. However, most Hindus go on such journeys to numerous iconic sites including those below:
Gangasagar is a village and a gram panchayat in the Sagar CD block in the Kakdwip subdivision of the South 24 Parganas district in the Indian state of West Bengal.
Kushmanda Sarowar Triveni Dham is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage site dedicated to the Goddess Kushmanda Bhagwati. The name Kushmanda is formed by amalgamation of three words, ku meaning ‘a little’, ushma meaning ‘warmth’ and anda meaning ‘the cosmic egg’. Hence, she is considered as the creator of the universe. She is often shown as having eight or ten hands and holds weapons, rosary, etc. and rides a lion. She is also said to be the happy form of goddess Durga, the fourth of the Navadurga worshipped in Dashahara. It is believed that her smile ended the eternal darkness that was present before the existence of any creation. Winter melon (Kubindo) is the favourite offering for the goddess.
The Prayag Kumbh Mela, also known as Allahabad Kumbh Mela, is a mela, or religious gathering, associated with Hinduism and held in the city of Prayagraj, India, at the Triveni Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna, and the mythical Sarasvati river. The festival is marked by a ritual dip in the waters, but it is also a celebration of community commerce with numerous fairs, education, religious discourses by saints, mass feedings of monks or the poor, and entertainment spectacle. Approximately 50 and 30 million people attended the Prayagraj Ardh Kumbh Mela in 2019 and Maha Kumbh Mela in 2013 respectively to bathe in the holy river Ganges, making them the largest peaceful gathering events in the world.
Sahaganj is a neighbourhood in Bansberia of Hooghly district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA).
The 2019 Prayagraj Ardh Kumbh Mela was the Ardh Kumbh Mela held at Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India from 15 January to 4 March 2019. This event will be followed by the Prayag Maha Kumbh scheduled for January to February 2025.
Tribeni may refer to:
Triveni Dham is a confluence of three rivers, Sona, Tamasa and Sapta Gandaki located in Binayi Tribeni Rural Municipality, Nawalparasi district of Nepal. The nearby Valmiki Ashram is linked to Ramayana, where Sita was sent to exile by Rama with her two sons Lava and Kusha. The place has many historical temples. Pilgrimages from Nepal and India visit this place for worship and to take holy bath. During Maghe Ausi, a Mela is organized annually. This Mela used to be a common market for Nepali and Indian merchants.
Gangasagar Mela is a mela and festival in Hinduism, held every year at Gangasagar, West Bengal, India. The confluence of the Ganges and the Bay of Bengal is called the Gangasagar, the fair is held every year on Makar Sankranti at Kapilmuni's ashram located on the Gangasagar. The mela is celebrated on 14 or 15 January every year.
Kapil Muni Temple or Kapil Muni Mandir is a Hindu temple located on the Gangasagar in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is one of the holiest pilgrimage sites for Hindus and it is believed that Kapil Muni did Tapas here.
The 2025 Prayag Kumbh Mela, also referred to as the 2025 Maha Kumbh, is the ongoing iteration of the Maha Kumbh Mela. It is scheduled to take place from 13 January to 26 February 2025, at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India. This event marks the completion of a 12-Kumbh Mela cycle and is officially termed a Maha Kumbh Mela, spanning 45 days.