Norwalk, CA – On October 24th, Kumbh Mela USA returned to Norwalk, California for yet another grand celebration of Sanatana Hindu Dharma. For the first time ever, the stateside festival was conducted under the auspices of Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad (ABAP), the organizer of Kumbh Mela in India which is the largest spiritual gathering in the world. ABAP has been conducting Kumbh Mela from time immemorial, and consists of 13 Akhadas (houses of monks) of Hinduism, with over 1 million sadhus (monks) from various Vedic traditions, including Hinduism and Buddhism.
Highlights of the festive day include Rudra Homa (a fire ritual for the Hindu God Lord Shiva) for rain to end the ongoing drought in the State of California, and Maha Arati (grand offering of light to the deities). Many local Hindu temples and followers participated in a grand procession where temple priests and representatives brought their deities to immerse in a holy bath. The water itself was consecrated and energized by water brought from India’s Holy River Godavri during the Kumbh Mela that took place in Nasik, India earlier this month and by the ancient Sanskrit chants from the Rudra Homa.
Prominent Hindu authors and keynote speakers, Rajiv Malhotra and Stephen Knapp, addressed the audience with inspirational talks on Hinduism, as well as the systematic marginalization of the deep spiritual significance of Hindu traditions and celebrations.
The event was blessed by His Holiness Paramahamsa Nithyananda via a video message. California State Senator Tony Mendoza honored the Kumbh Mela with a special award plaque acknowledging its contribution to the local community.
The program concluded with cultural programs, demonstrations of blindfold reading by several kids of the Nithyananda GurukulSM, who have all been initiated into the powerful Third Eye Awakening SM process by H.H. Paramahamsa Nithyananda, and Bhandara (serving divine energized food) for sadhus, dignitaries and other honored guests.
“Kumbh Mela is the celebration of the highest possibility of mankind. I am glad that the Akhila Bharatiya Akhada Parishad is taking this festival all over the world so that more and more people can experience the grandeur and power of this festival”, says H.H. Paramahamsa Nithyananda.