The event in Durban will be held on February 2 at the Sivananda International Cultural Centre in La Mercy Sadhus or Hindu holy men take part in a mass bathing ritual in Sangam, the confluence of Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers during Shahi Snan or 'royal bath' to mark the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. Vast crowds of Hindu pilgrims in India bathed in sacred waters as the Kumbh Mela opened on January 13 with organisers expecting 400 million people - the world's largest gathering of humanity -- to assemble over six weeks. Picture: Idrees Mohammed/AFP
The Divine Life Society of South Africa will celebrate the auspicious Maha Kumbh Mela on Sunday, February 2, at its Sivananda International Cultural Centre (SICC) in La Mercy, as part of its centenary celebrations.
The mela is currently being held in Prayagraj, India, at the confluence of the sacred Ganga, Yamuna and the subterranean Saraswati rivers.
It began on January 13 and ends on February 26.
The festival, which takes place every 12 years on the banks of the holy Ganga River, the most sacred river in India, draws millions of pilgrims. The number expected to attend this year is about 400 million – the largest gathering of human beings on the planet.
The celebration, in La Mercy, will start at 6am and includes a special ganga havan dedicated to Mother Ganga, and a guest artiste. Breakfast will be at 8am.
Ganga Arati will be from 8am until 9.50am.
SICC has four pools sanctified with holy Ganga water - Bhagirathi, Ganga Rani, Yamuna and Saraswati. Ganga Arati will take place at all sacred pools. Devotees will have the opportunity to have dharshan of Ganga Mata at all the pools.
“This will be a unique opportunity of receiving the blessings of the Divine Mother in the form of Ganga Mata, who sanctifies, purifies and heals through the touch of her pure waters. A special Satsang, which includes a keynote speaker and guest artiste, will take place at 10am in the main prayer hall and will be followed by lunch prasad,” said Dr Mawalall Chatrooghoon, the Chairperson of the Centenary Celebrations' Steering Committee.
“Sri Swami Sivananda said the following about Mother Ganga, ‘For a Hindu, the word Ganga or Ganges has its own sacred association. Every Hindu thirsts for a dip in the Ganga, and a drop of her water at the time of his death. Aspirants and mendicants build their huts on the banks of the Ganga for practising penance and meditation. In Kali Yuga, Ganga has the glory of being regarded as the most sacred place’.
“Devotees in South Africa have also been blessed by our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda and Pujya Swami Sahajananda (spiritual head of the society), who brought Ganga to South Africa in the form of our Ganga Ranis at our ashrams and in different parts of the country, where daily ganga arati is conducted.
“The Maha Kumbh Mela will be of great spiritual significance to all Hindus, as Mother Ganga is a universal form of the Divine Mother, worshipped by all Hindus. There is no doubt that if one has love and reverence for Ganga, one’s spiritual benefits will be immense.”
For further information, visit www.sivananda.dls.org.za or call the society’s headquarters on 031 262 2314.
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