3949) Kumbh Mela (or 'Festival of the Sacred Pitcher'), Bharat/India: Bhartiya dak/India Post has issued postage stamps depicting the Maha Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj, where it was recently held: Date/Year of Stamps issue: 13.02.2025:
Kumbh Mela (or 'Festival of the Sacred Pitcher') is an
important Hindu pilgrimage, celebrated approximately every 6 or 12 years,
correlated with the partial or full revolution of Jupiter. It is the largest
peaceful gathering of people in the world.
A ritual dip in the waters marks the festival. It is also
a celebration of community commerce with numerous fairs, education, religious
discourses by saints, mass gatherings of monks, and entertainment. The seekers
believe that bathing in these rivers[clarification needed] is a means to “prāyaścitta”
(atonement, penance, restorative action) for past mistakes, and that it
cleanses them of their sins.
In many parts of India, similar but smaller community
pilgrimage and bathing festivals are called the Magha Mela, Makar Mela or
equivalent. Other places where the Magha-Mela or Makar-Mela bathing pilgrimage
and fairs have been called Kumbh Mela include Kurukshetra, Rajim, Mahamaham
(Tamil Nadu), Sonipat, and Panauti (Nepal).
In Tamil Nadu, the Magha Mela with water-dip
ritual is a festival of antiquity, and this festival is held at the Mahamaham
tank (near Kaveri river) every 12 years at Kumbakonam, attracting millions of
Hindus.
Before 1858, the name "Kumbh" was applied only
to the 12th occurrence of an annual mela in Haridwar during April or May. In
Allahabad (now Prayagraj), there was an annual Magh Mela in January or February
that had found mention in Hindu texts, including Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas.
The first Kumbh Mela in Allahabad was organised in 1870.
The weeks over which the festival is observed cycle at
each site approximately once every 12 years based on the Hindu luni-solar
calendar and the relative astrological positions of Jupiter, the sun and the
moon. The difference between Prayag and Haridwar festivals is about 6 years,
and both feature a Maha (major) and Ardha (half) Kumbh Melas.
The Nashik and Ujjain festivals have been celebrated in
the same year or one year apart, typically about 3 years after the Prayagraj
Kumbh Mela.
The Kumbh Melas have three dates around which the
significant majority of pilgrims participate, while the festival itself lasts
between one and three months around these dates. Each festival attracts
millions, with the largest gathering at the Prayag Kumbh Mela and the second
largest at Haridwar.
According to the Encyclopædia Britannica and Indian
authorities, more than 200 million Hindus gathered for the Kumbh Mela in 2019,
including 50 million on the festival's most crowded day.
The festival is one of the largest peaceful gatherings in
the world, and considered as the "world's largest congregation of
religious pilgrims".
It has been inscribed on the UNESCO's
Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The festival is observed over many days, with the day of
Amavasya attracting the largest number on a single day.
The Kumbh in Kumbha Mela literally means "pitcher,
jar, pot" in Sanskrit.
It is found in the Vedic texts, in this sense, often in
the context of holding water or in mythical legends about the nectar of
immortality.
The word Kumbh or its derivatives are found in the
Rigveda (1500–1200 BCE), for example, in verse 10.89.7; verse 19.16 of the
Yajurveda, verse 6.3 of Samaveda, verse 19.53.3 of the Atharvaveda, and other
Vedic and post-Vedic ancient Sanskrit literature.
In astrological
texts, the term also refers to the zodiac sign of Aquarius. The astrological
etymology dates to late 1st-millennium CE.
The word mela means "unite, join, meet, move
together, assembly, junction" in Sanskrit, particularly in the context of
fairs, and community celebrations. This word too is found in the Rigveda and
other ancient Hindu texts. Thus, Kumbh Mela means an "assembly, meet,
union" around "water or nectar of immortality".
Historical origins:
A pot (kumbh) containing Amrit was one of the creative
products of the Samudra Manthan legend in ancient Hindu texts.
Many Hindus believe that the Kumbh Mela originated in
times immemorial and is attested in the Hindu Puranas about Samudra Manthan
(lit. churning of the ocean) found in the Puranas.
The first page of “Prayag Snana Vidhi” manuscript
(Sanskrit, Devanagari script).
It describes methods to complete a bathing pilgrimage at
Prayag. The manuscript (1674 CE) has a colophon, which states "Copied by
Sarvottama, son of Vishvanatha Bhatta, Samvat 1752".
Hindu mythology describes the creation of a "pot of
amrit (nectar of immortality)" after the forces of good and evil churn the
ocean of creation.
The gods and demons fight over this pot, the "kumbh",
of nectar in order to gain immortality.
In a later day extension to the legend, the pot is spilt
at four places, and that is the origin of the four Kumbha Melas.
The story varies, with some stating Vishnu as “Mohini
avatar”, others stating “Dhanavantari” or “Garud” or “Indra” spilling the pot.
Numerous chapters and verses in Hindu texts are found
about a bathing festival, the sacred junction of rivers Ganga, Yamuna and
sacred Saraswati at Prayag, and pilgrimage to Prayag. These are in the form of “Snan”
(bathe) ritual and in the form of “Prayag Mahatmya”.
The Commemorative Stamps:
The Maha Kumbh Stamps - 2025
The First Day Cover (FDC) is dated 13.02.2025
International Philately Exhibitions:
5) Specialised World Stamp Championship Exhibition, Bangkok, Thailand: Organised from 27.11.2023 to 02.12.2023: Bhartiya Dak/India Post participated in the Philatelic Exhibition
6) World Philatelic Exhibition, PUNTA DEL ESTE, URUGUAY: India Post perticipated with Six Special Covers in the Exhibition held from 17th to 22nd Fenruary 2025
7) HAFNIA 24, Copenhagen, Denmark: Celebrating 400 Years of Danish Post: India Post participated in the Stamp Exhibition held from 17.10.2024 to 20.10.2024 with two Special Covers
8) Specialised World Stamp Exhibition - EFIRO - Romania 16-19 April 2024, Bharat/India: Four Special Covers presented in the Exhibition by Bhartiya Dak/India Post featuring - Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, Taj Mahal and the Indian Peacock: Date of Special Covers issue: 2024
Greetings:
1) "Greetings", Bhartiya/India Postage Stamps, Bharat/India: Two sets of Stamps issued on "Greetings (4 Stamps - 2007) and "Season's Greetings" (2 Stamps - 2016)
AUGMENTED REALITY (AR) POST CARDS:
1) HEADGEARS OF INDIA, Augmented Reality (AR) Postcards, Bharat/India: Bhartiya Dak/India Post has issued a set of 16 Post Cards which are AR enabled: Post Card set issued by the National Philatelic Museum, New Delhi: Year of Postcards issue: 2025
World Earth Day:
1) 50th Anniversary of World's Earth Day, Vatican City: A 10 Euro Silver Coin issued by the "Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato Roma" on behalf of Ufficio Filatelico e Numismatico Vaticano": Date of Coin issue: 16.10.2020
2) "One Earth, Republic of Fiji: A $1 (One Dollar) 1-oz Silver BU Coin depicts the concept: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2022
3) World Earth Day - 22.04.2025, Bharat/India: Bhartiya Dak/India Post has issued a set of six post cards on World Earth Day to highlight that we have one Earth only and we need to protect all our resourcesz: Date/Year of Post Cards issued: 22.04.2025
4) "Earth Day - Crystal of the Mineral Zepter Quartz", HP Mostar (Mostar), Bosnia and Herzegovina: HP Mostar has issued a postage stamp of 1.20 BAM featuring the Crystal: Datew/Year of Stamp issue: 16.05.2025
5) World Earth Day - 22.04.2025, Bharat/India: Special Cancellation Postal Stationary issued by Bhartiya Dak/India Post - a Inland letter, a postcard and an envelope which depict three of India's towering personalities: Date/Year of issue: 22.04.2025
Posts on G20 Leader's Summit in New Delhi on this Blog:
1) G20 Leader's Summit, New Delhi 2023, Bharat/India: India Post has issued a Souvenir Sheet (SS) of two stamps of 2000 Paise (or Rs.20/-) each commemorating the G20 Leader's Summit in New Delhi: Date of Souvenir Sheet issue: 26.07.2023
2) G20 Leader's Summit, New Delhi 2023, Bharat/India: India Government Mint (IGM) Kolkata has released a combo of Rs.100/- and Rs.75/- Quaternary Silver Coin set commemorating the G20 Leader's Summit in New Delhi: Date/Year of Coin set issue: 2023
Posts on "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav" on this Blog:
1) Did you Know Series (71): "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav" (Bharat/India celebrates the 75th Year of Independence: A set of four coins in the denominations of Rs.2, 5, 10 and 20 issued by the India Government Mint, Mumbai
2) Did You Know Series (74): "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav" ("Bharat/India celebrates the 75th Year of Independence"): A set of six coins in the denominations of Rs.5, 10 and 20 totalling Rs.75 issued by the India Government Mint, Hyderabad, together with a Special Cover issued by the Hyderabad Postal Circle of India Post
3) Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav: A Presentation Pack of Indian Postage Stamps prepared by the National Philatelic Museum, New Delhi comprising of : i) A First Day Cover: ii) the two Stamps of 500 Paise (Rs.5/-) and iii) the Information Brochure (IB): Year of Presentation Pack issue: 2023
4) Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM), India: "Special Edition - 2022-2023": India Government Mint (IGM) Hyderabad has issued two Presentation Packs in Coin Cards in the denominations of Rs.20/-, Rs.10/-, Rs.5/-, Rs.2/- and Re 1/- with the AKAM logo on the Reverse: Year of Presentation Packs issue: 2023
5) Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Bharat/India celebrates 75th Year of Independence: A set of five Coins in the denominations of Re.1/-, Rs.2/-, Rs.5/-, Rs.10/- and Rs.20/- released by the India Government Mint, Mumbai in 2023
6) Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Bharat/India celebrates 75th Year of Independence: A set of five Coins in the denominations of Re.1/-, Rs.2/-, Rs.5/-, Rs.10/- and Rs.20/- released by the India Government Mint, Mumbai in 2023
AMRITPEX 2023 (THE NATIONAL PHILATELY EXHIBITION) held at New Delhi from 11-15.02.2023:
1) "AMRITPEX 2023" (The "National Philately Exhibition") held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from 11-15 February 2023: ii) WOMEN'S POWER: EXPLORING NEW HORIZONS": A Special Cover released on 12.02.2023
2) "AMRITPEX 2023" (The "National Philately Exhibition") held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from 11-15 February 2023: ii) "WOMEN's POWER: EXCELLENCE IN SPORTS": A Special Cover released on 12.02.2023
3) "AMRITPEX 2023" (The "National Philately Exhibition") held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from 11-15 February 2023: 11) "WOMEN'S POWER: CONSERVING NATIONAL HERITAGE": A SPECIAL COVER RELEASED ON 12.02.2023
4) "AMRITPEX 2023" (The National Philately Exhibition") held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from 11-15 February 2023: ii) WOMEN'S POWER: DEFENDING OUR NATION": A Special Cover released on 12.02.2023
5) "AMRITPEX 2023" (The National Philately Exhibition") held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from 11-15 February 2023: ii) "DIVYANG: PRIDE OF INDIA": A Special Cover released on 13.03.2023
6) "AMRITPEX 2023" (The National Philately Exhibition") held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from 11-15 February 2023: ii) "PUPPETRY: INDIA'S CULTURAL HERITAGE": A Special Cover released on 14.02.2023
7) "AMRITPEX 2023" (The "National Philately Exhibition") held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from 11-15 February 2023: ii) "BIRSA MUNDA": A Special Cover released on 14.02.2023
8) "AMRITPEX 2023" (The National Philately Exhibition") held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from 11-15 February 2023: ii) "GOVIND GURU": A Special Cover released on 14.02.2023
9) "AMRITPEX 2023" (The National Philately Exhibition") held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from 11-15 February 2023: ii) "INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF MILLETS -2023 (FOXTAIL MILLETS, FINGER MILLETS, PEARL MILLETS, SORGHUM MILLETS, BARNYARD MILLETS, LITTLE MILLET"): A Special Cover released on 14.02.2023
10) "AMRITPEX 2023" (The "National Philately Exhibition") held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from 11-15 February 2023: ii) "OUR FREEDOM STRUGGLE": A Special Cover released on 14.02.2023
11) "AMRITPEX 2023" (The "National Philately Exhibition"), held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from 11-15 February 2023: ii) "NATURAL HERITAGE OF INDIA": A Special Cover released on 15.02.2023
12) "AMRITPEX 2023" (The National Philately Exhibition") held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from 11-15 February 2023: ii) "ACHIEVEMENTS AT 75 YEARS": A Special Cover released on 15.02.2023
13) "AMRITPEX 2023" (The National Philatey Exhibition") held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from 11-15 February 2023: ii) "UTI ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY LIMITED (UTI AMC)": A Special Cover released on 15.02.2023
14) "AMRITPEX 2023" (The National Philately Exhibition") held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from 11-15 February 2023: ii) "INDIA POSTS IN SERVICE OF THE NATION": A Special Cover released on 15.02.2023
15) Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM), India: India Post has issued a 500 Paise (Rs.5/-) postage stamp highlighting the initatives taken by the Government of India (GOA) under the programme: Date/Year of Stamp issue: 11.02.2023
Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav: Five Special Covers released by Philately Division, Dak Bhawan, New Delhi:
1) Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, India: An initiative of the Government of India to celebrate and commemorate 75 Years of Independence and India's glorious history: i) "FREEDOM STRUGGLE"
2) Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, India: An initiative of the Government of India to celebrate and commemorate 75 Years of Independence and India's glorious history: ii) "IDEAS@75
3) Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, India: An initiative of the Government of India to celebrate and commemorate 75 Years of Independence and India's history: iii) "RESOLVE@75"
4) Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, India: Am initiative of the Government of India to celebrate and commemorate 75 Years of Independence and India's glorious history: iv) "ACTIONS@75"
5) Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, India: An intiative of the Government of India to celebrate and commemorate 75 Years of Independence and India's glorious history: v) "ACHIEVEMENTS@75"
Links to Special Covers issued by the Rajasthan Postal Circle of India Post:
i) "Bikaneri Bhujia", (Rajasthan), India: Rajasthan Postal Circle of India Post has issued a set of eight Special Covers on Geographical Indications (GIs) of Rajasthan: Date of Special Covers issue: 18.08.2021
ii) "Makrana Marble", (Rajasthan), India: Rajasthan Postal Circle, Jaipur of Inda Post has issued a set of eight Special Covers on Geographical Indications (GIs) of Rajasthan: Date of Special Covers issue: 18.08.2021
iii) "Blue Pottery of Jaipur", (Rajasthan), India: Rajasthan Postal Circle, Jaipur of India Post has issued a set of eight Special Covers on Geographical Indications (GIs) of Rajasthan: Date of Special Covers issue: 18.08.2021
iv) "Thewa Art Work", Rajasthan, India: Rajasthan Postal Circle, Jaipur of India Post has issued a set of eight Special Covers on Geographical Indications (GIs) of Rajasthan: Date of Special Covers issue: 18.08.2021
v) "Kathputlis of Rajasthan", (Rajasthan), India: Rajasthan Postal Circle, Jaipur of India Post has issued a set of eight Special Covers (SCs) on Geographical Indications (GIs) of Rajasthan: Date of Special Covers issue: 18.08.2021
vi) "Molela Clay Work & Pokran Pottery", (Rajasthan) Postal Circle of Inda Post has issued a set of eight Special Covers on Geographical Indications (GIs) of Rajasthan: Date of Special Covers issue: 18.08.2021
vii) "Kota Doria", (Rajasthan), India: Rajasthan Postal Circle, Jaipur of India Post has issued a set of eight Special Covers on Geographical Indications (GIs) of Rajasthan: Date of Special Covers issue: 18.08.2021
viii) "Sanganeri & Bagru Hand Block Print", (Rajasthan), India: Rajasthan Postal Circle, Jaipur of India Post has issued a set of eight Special Covers on Geographical Indications (GIs) of Rajasthan: Date of Special Covers issue: 18.08.2021
Links to Special Covers issued by Maharashtra Postal Circle recently:
Links to Special Postal Covers/Booklet issued by the Maharashtra Postal Circle (2021-2022):
Links to Special Covers issued by Uttarakhand Postal Circle recently:
Links to Special Covers issued by Madhya Pradesh Postal Circle:
Links to Posts on Special Covers issued by the Odisha Postal Circle:
Links to Posts on Special Covers issued by the North East Postal Circle:
Links to Posts on Special Covers issued by the West Bengal Postal Circle:
Links to Posts on Special Covers issued by the Tamilnadu Postal Circle:
Links to Posts on Special Covers issued by the Haryana Postal Circle:
Links to posts on Special Covers issued by Kerala Postal Circle:
IPKF Operations, Sri Lanka:
Links to posts on Army Post Office (APO) issues:
Other posts on the Indian Armed Forces on this Blog:
Links to posts on Mahatma Gandhi on this Blog:
Special Stamp Packs/Books:
Links to Posts on Our Solar System:
1) Did You Know Series (34): World Stamp Show NY 2016, being held at Javits Centre, New York from 28.05.2016 to 04.06.2016
2) The Solar System: A set of eight Stamps of 500 Paise (or Rs.5/-) denomination each, depicting the eight planets - Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune & Uranus, brought out by India Post on 20.03.2018
Links to posts on Mahatma Gandhi on this Blog:
Some posts on Banks on this Blog:
Links to posts on stamps on six Hill Forts of Rajasthan (UNESCO World Heritage Sites):
Links to some posts on the Forts of Maharashtra:
Special Stamp Packs/Books:
India Post Stamps on Special Mugs:
Permanent Pictorial Cancellations:
Links to Posts on Indian Post-Cards:
Commemorative Stationeries:
Registered Post Envelopes:
Links to Commemorative Stamps Posts on Indian Stamps issued during 2025:
Links to Commemorative Stamps Posts on Indian Stamps issued during 2024:
Links to Commemorative Stamps Posts on Indian Stamps issued during 2023:
Links to other Commemorative Stamps Posts on Indian Stamps issued during 2022:
Links to other Commemorative Stamps Posts on Indian Stamps issued during 2021:
Links to other Commemorative Stamps Posts on Indian Stamps issued during 2020:
Links to other Commemorative Stamps posts on Indian stamps issued during 2019:
Links to other Commemorative Stamps posts on Indian Stamps issued during 2018:
Links to other Commemorative Stamps posts on Indian stamps issued during 2017:
Links to other Commemorative Stamps posts on Indian stamps issued during 2016
Links to other Commemorative Stamps posts on Indian Stamps issued during 2014 and 2015:
List of Commemorative Stamps Posts on stamps issued in 2013:
List of Commemorative Stamps Posts on Stamps issued in 2012:
List of Commemorative Stamps Posts on Stamps issued in 2011:
List of Commemorative Stamps Posts on Stamps issued in 2010:
List of Commemorative stamps Posts on Stamps issued in 2009:
List of Commemorative Stamps Posts issued in 2008:
List of Commemorative Stamps issued posts in 2007:
List of Commemorative Stamps issued posts in 2006:
List of Commemorative Stamps issued posts in 2005:
List of Commemorative Stamps issued posts in 2004:
List of Commemorative Stamps issued posts in 1996:
List of Commemorative Stamps issued posts in 1964:
List of Commemorative Stamps issued posts in 1961:
Commemorative stamps issued in 1931, 1947 and 1950:
Postage Stamps from Thailand depicting Buddhist Jataka Tales:
Other Postage stamps from Thailand:
Forever Stamps from United States Postal Service (USPS):
Postage Stamps from the Bailiwick of Jersey:
Postage Stamps from Gibraltar:
Postage Stamps from Guernsey/Alderney Island:
Postage Stamps from Great Britain/UK:
Postage Stamps issued by Hongkong Post:
Postage Stamps issued by New Zealand Post:
Postage Stamps from Romania:
Postage Stamps from Kyrgyzstan:
Postage stamps from Tokelau:
Postage stamps from Israel:
Postage Stamps from Norway:
Postage Stamps from Correos (Spanish Post):
Postage Stamps from Armenia:
Links to posts on my Alma Mater - La Martiniere College, Lucknow:
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