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The year 2007 has started with the world's largest and greatest religious gathering in the world…The Kumbh Mela.

Millions of Hindu pilgrims travel to one of the specific holy locations in India four times every twelve years. The festival lasts over a month and sees pilgrims taking part in daily spiritual rituals such as bathing in holy waters as a method of body purification.

The pilgrimage this year is called the 'Ardh' (half) Kumbh Mela as we are in the sixth year of the twelve-year cycle. Each twelve-year cycle consists of one 'Maha' or 'great' Kumbh Mela. In the year of 2001, records were smashed as it was reported over 100 million people attended, making it the largest gathering of human beings for a single purpose. The gathering was so large it was seen and photographed from space via a high-resolution satellite.

The pilgrimages take place in one of the four sacred locations in India.

· Prayag (now called Allahabad). The meeting of the three holy rivers; Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati.
· Haridwar. The entering of the river Ganga from the Himalayas.
· Ujjain.
· Nasik. Godavari River.

The Ardh Kumbh Mela this year is being held in Prayag.

So what is the literal definition of the Kumbh Mela? And what does it represent? The literal translation of the Kumbh Mela is "Pot Festival". The word Kumbh comes from ancient Sanskrit translation of "pot" and Mela translated means "festival". Legend has it that in the Vedic period, thousands of years ago, Gods and demons in concurrence made an agreement to churn the nectar of immortality (Amrita) from the ocean of milk. It was when this Kumbh appeared containing Amrita trouble started. The demons decided to steal the Kumbh and were closely chased by the Gods. For twelve days and twelve nights the Gods fought with the demons over this Kumbh. The battle resulted in drops of the holy nectar falling out of the Kumbh and onto the four places mentioned above. Hence why these locations are considered mystical and sacred.

What is amazing about the festival is that it attracts people of all different faiths, backgrounds and colours. Mark Twain a famous American Traveller and Writer once wrote " "It is wonderful, the power of a faith like that, that can make multitudes upon multitudes of the old and weak and the young and frail enter without hesitation or complaint upon such incredible journeys. It is done in love, or it is done in fear; I do not know which it is. No matter what the impulse is, the act born of it is beyond imagination marvellous to our kind of people, the cold whites."

As well as the many rituals that take place during the festival, there are various forms of 'seva' or service that also occur for the less fortunate devotees of the event. For example, the provision of free food and shelter for those with minimal or no cash. The festival aims to provide a comfortable experience for everyone.

To witness the magnificent and awesome processions of the Kumbh Mela is to be apart of the harmonic vibrations that capture the hearts, minds and souls of the universe.

The centre of unity, peace and harmony...that is our Kumbh Mela.