Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad, Organizer of Kumbh Mela in India, Will Conduct Kumbh Mela USA

Celebration Will Take Place in Norwalk, California on October 24th, 2015

Kumbh Mela is the greatest pilgrimage and festival in the Hindu religion. The event is a religious and cultural spectacle, which occurs once in three years attracting millions from around the globe to take a dip in the holy waters of rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Kshipra and the mythical Saraswati. This event is the largest congregation in the history of mankind with more than 100 million people participating in 2014. At its heart, the mega event celebrates the power of spirituality, and the pull towards higher states of enlightened consciousness.

The Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad (ABAP) has been organizing the Kumbh Mela in India since time immemorial. It is the apex body of Hinduism, including all the 13 Akhadas (houses of monks) and over 1 million sadhus (spiritual seekers). For the first time ever, the ABAP will be organizing the Kumbh Mela outside India. On October 24th, Kumbh Mela USA will be celebrated in a grand fashion in Norwalk, California.

Hundreds of temples and organizations from around the US will gather in Norwalk, California, to recreate the magical festivities and auspiciousness of the Kumbh Mela. Deities (representing divine energy in physical forms) from the various North American temples, representing a wide variety of traditions in Hinduism, will be brought to the Maha Snan (Grand Holy Bath). Consecrated water will be brought from India to energize the waters for the holy bath.

The program will start with a special Rudra Homa – a grand fire ritual, which brings harmony with all elements of nature – to bring much-needed rain to help ease the California drought. A large number of priests from various temples will pray together for rain. This will be followed by the grand procession of all the deities, the traditional Snan and magnificent Maha Aarati – a beautifully synchronized lamp offering. Yet another tradition of Kumbh Mela is the showcasing of unique Yogic abilities; on this day, several children whose third eye (brow energy center) has been awakened through initiation by H.H. Paramahamsa Nithyananda, a popular Hindu spiritual teacher in India, will demonstrate their yogic powers to see using their third eye while their physical eyes are blindfolded. Special video message and blessings will be given by H.H. Paramahamsa Nithyananda.  Keynote speeches by popular authors and activists Rajiv Malhotra and Stephen Knapp. The evening will conclude with cultural programs that highlight the beauty and grandeur of Indian performing arts. In the tradition of Kumbh Mela, free food – Anna Dhaan – will be served to everyone in attendance.

Website: www.USAKumbhaMela.net

Contact: Madhur Shrivastava at 626-222-4039