1. By: Andrew Crane

2. Pilgrimage Kumbh Mela is celebrated 4 times every twelve years The Kumbh Mela is considered the largest gathering of people for religious purposes in the world. The location of the pilgrimage rotates between five different holy sites along the Ganges, Shipra, Godavari, and at Jamuna (popularly known as Yamuna), as well as the mythical River Sarasvati.

3. Purpose The world Kumbh means pitcher. In the hindu religion it is believed that at one time the gods were fighting over the kumbh which contained a liquid of immortality. During the struggle drops of the liquid were dropped at each of the five sites in which the Kumbh Mela is celebrated at today. Millions of hindus conjugate at these locations on Kumbh Mela due to the sun, moon, and Jupiter during that time of year. It is believed that bathing at the perfect time at one of the locations is a holy merit.

5. Sadhu Sadhu- are known as the preservers of faith, and are holy men within the hindu religion. They cover they bodies in ash, and wear their hair long and matted. These men often remain naked year-round or practice the most severe physical discipline in order to prove their allegiance to the hindu religion.

6. Summary of Presentation The Kumbh Mela is a massive Hindu pilgrimage that takes place 4 times every 12 years in 5 different locations around India. The location of the pilgrimage rotates between five different holy sites along the Ganges, Shipra, Godavari, and at Jamuna (popularly known as Yamuna), as well as the mythical River Sarasvati. The Kumbh Mela is the largest gathering of people for religious reasons in the world. The people of the hindu religion gather together for the Kumbh Mela in order to bath in the rivers at the different holy sites. The history behind it is the belief that the gods and demons were fighting over a pot (kumbha) which contained the liquid of immortality produced by their joint churning. During the struggle, drops of the liquid fell on the Kumbh Mela’s four earthly sites, and the rivers are believed to turn back into the immortal liquid during certain times giving pilgrims the chance to bathe in immortality. Different people from around the world attend the Kumbh Mela in order to bath in the rivers, as well as learn and meditate with the Sadhus who make the journey as well. Sadhus are Hindu Holy men. These men remain naked most of the year and practice different challenging things in order to prove their faith.

7. Sources For Pictures http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=images%20of%20kumbh%20 mela%20sadhu&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=images%20of%20kumbh%20 mela%20sadhu&sc=0-21&sp=- 1&sk=#view=detail&id=A4A581A2C3947A0FFB841629DC0E19A13BF7 1748&selectedIndex=11 http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=images%20of%20kumbh%20 mela%20sadhu&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=images%20of%20kumbh%20 mela%20sadhu&sc=0-21&sp=- 1&sk=#view=detail&id=A4A581A2C3947A0FFB841629DC0E19A13BF7 1748&selectedIndex=11 http://1.bp.blogspot.com/- Dk_9oH9NjUA/UQ_zoaX14YI/AAAAAAAAMPU/q6WPnjYFEss/s1600/ Maha+Kumbh+Mela+baba.jpg

8. Sources for Information "Kumbh Mela | Hindu Festival." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2015. "Kumbh Mela Information Guide." What Is Kumbh Mela? Information About Kumbh Mela India. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2015.