"MAHA KUMBH" Cultural and Social aspects

A Synopsis for
MAHA KUMBH
Social and Cultural and aspects

Director: Sandeep Kumar
Duration: 46:16 minutes

The film presented expresses the grandiosity and importance of the Mahakumbh in Prayag mainly from the cultural and social context. Kumbh is the largest, most sacred and prestigious event ever known in the history of humanity. This event, which takes place every 12 years in Haridwar, Prayag, Ujjain and Nashik on the holy land of India, is a symbol of faith for Indians as well as for the people out of India. It is a great example, not only for its grandiosity but also for its religious, communal and cultural diversity all over the world.
It is a mythological belief that sometime, thousands of years ago, during the oceanic churning of the gods and demons, Amritkumba was discovered. In their struggle to get this Kumbh, some drops of nectar fell on the earth. The places where these drops fell, Kumbh Mahaparv was organized and continues to be so even today. Rivers have always been given a special status and respect in India and therefore personified as a mother. Mother Ganges is considered to be most sacred and pure of all the rivers. Due to the confluence of Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati, three very sacred rivers of India, the Prayag Kumbh is considered to be superior as compared to other Kumbhs. Kumbh is a symbol of creation just as the whole universe was created. Like the kumbh or pitcher receives its form from the the five basic elements after a long process, in the same way man also receives its physical and spiritual nature from these five elements after a long process of evolution. Therefore, like kumbh, we should use our life for philanthropy and human welfare. This is the inference of Kumbh festival.
Along with spirituality, Kumbh has its own particular social, religious and economic significance. Various spiritual and religious people believe that their life is incomplete without taking the holy bath during the kumbh parv atleast once in their life-time. Therefore, after achieving everything from the material world, they crave for kumbhsanan for reaching out to the divine. Here, the saints, sects and akhadas of saints and gather on a fixed date and become witnesses to this grand festival.
The soul of Indian society has been religious since its inception. The main reason for this is the deepening of religion and spirituality in Indian society, which exist from mythology, narratives and popular fables and legends in the public. Kumbh Mahaparv gives opportunities to socialize different cultures to meet each other and to learn and understand them among themselves.
Over a period of time, the economic perspective of Kumbh Mela has also been on increase. The small traders who come from far away will earn monetarily in addition noble virtues from this festival. Though, Kumbha can be seen as the market by business minded people, there is no feeling of economic benefit but spirituality and benevolence.
In this way Kumbha Maha Parva offers multi-dimensional interests which makes it far superior to any event in the world. The origin of Kumbh lies in the spirit of 'Ahm Brahmasmi', (I am the creator) 'Vishvabandhutva' (Universal brotherhood) and 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'. (World is a family) The film presented is a humble attempt to bring this great heritage of India and Sanatan Dharma to the world and to propagate it.