Kumbha (Kumbh) Mela is a mass pilgrimage centered on the ritual of riverside bathing, it is variously called the the Great Indian Bathing Festival, the Urn Festival, the Pitcher Festival and so forth. It occurs four times every twelve years rotating between Allahabad/Prayaga at the confluence of the rivers Ganga (Ganges), Jamuna (Yamuna) and the concealed Saraswati, Haridwar (Hara Dwar) on the river Ganga (Ganges), Ujjain on the river Kshipra (Shipra), and Nasik on the river Godavari (Gomati)
Bathing in these rivers during the Kumbha (Kumbh) Mela is considered an endeavour of great merit, cleansing both body and spirit. The Allahabad and Haridwar (Hara Dwar) festivals are routinely attended by five million or more pilgrims; the Kumbha (Kumbh) Mela is the largest religious gathering in the world. It may also be the oldest
Two traditions are in circulation regarding the origin and timing of the festival: one that stems from ancient texts known as the Puranas, and the other that connects it with astrological considerations. According to the Puranic epic, the gods and demons had churned the milky ocean at the beginning of time in order to gather various divine treasures including a jar containing a potion of immortality - Ambrosia. As the jar emerged from the ocean the gods and demons began a terrific battle for its possession. During the battle, which according to one legend the gods won by trickery, four drops of the precious potion fell to earth, when Jayantha (Jayanth) the son of the chief deity Indra carried the jar (Kumbha/kumbh) that held the ambrosia in the form of a giant bird - these places became the sites of the four Kumbha (Kumbh) Mela festivals, according to another legend he ran away with the jar and hid them on twelve locations on earth where few drops of ambrosia fell, four of these places are known and identified as the four sites for the Kumbh (Kumbh) Mela, the other eight locations are being researched by our team
The astrological tradition (ascribed to a lost Puranic text and not traceable in extant editions) seems to stem from a very ancient festival called the Kumbha Parva, which occurred at Hardwar every twelfth year when Jupiter was in Aquarius (the Indian name being Kumbha/Kumbh) and the sun entered Aries
At some later time the term 'Kumbha (Kumbh)' was prefixed to the Melas held at Prayaga, Ujjain, and Nasik and these four sites became identified with the four mythical locations of the immortality potion - Ambrosia. In theory the Kumbha (Kumbh) Mela festivals are supposed to occur every three years, rotating between the four cities. In practice the four-city cycle may actually take eleven or thirteen years and this because of the difficulties and controversies in calculating the astrological conjunctions. Furthermore the interval between the Kumbha Mela at Nasik and that at Ujjain is not of three years; they are celebrated the same year or only a year apart. This deviation in practice is intriguing and cannot be fully explained by either astrological or mythological means.
kalpavasi.com
The end of Walmart’s latest Facebook campaign for hunger relief is nearing and the company is encouraging last-minute “likes” that will help determine which of 100 U.S. cities will receive $1.5 million in grants. The “Fighting Hunger Together” Facebook campaign will end at 12 a.m. on Jan. 1 and is part of the company’s $2 billion commitment to help fight hunger through 2015.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/walmart/47721/
The end of Walmart’s latest Facebook campaign for hunger relief is nearing and the company is encouraging last-minute “likes” that will help determine which of 100 U.S. cities will receive $1.5 million in grants. The “Fighting Hunger Together” Facebook campaign will end at 12 a.m. on Jan. 1 and is part of the company’s $2 billion commitment to help fight hunger through 2015.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/walmart/47721/
Today Walgreens (NYSE, NASDAQ: WAG), announced the Walgreens Way to Well Health Tour with AARP, a program dedicated to providing free prevention and early detection health services to some of the nation’s most underserved communities. Now through December 2012, the tour will provide free tests, assessments, education and consulting services to communities located predominantly in cities with the highest prevalence for leading diseases, and highest uninsured and unemployed populations.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/54970-walgreens-way-to-well-health-tour-with-aarp
Helsinki has started its year as World Design Capital 2012. With its year-long programme WDC Helsinki 2012 is one of the world’s largest ever expeditions into design. During 2012 Helsinki, the capital of Finland, will explore the benefits and value of design, and showcase the ways it can improve our cities.
WDC Helsinki 2012 started its year with New Year’s Eve of Design on the 31st of December 2011. Approximately 30,000 people gathered to celebrate the beginning of the year in the heart of Helsinki. Next major event will be the World Design Capital Gala presenting the World Design Impact Prize as well as the Alvar Aalto Medal and the Estlander Prize.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/52815-wdch
Nespresso, the pioneer and reference for premium portioned coffee, officially opened its largest boutique in the Southern Hemisphere on December 2nd, 2010. The Sydney boutique, fronting the prestigious redeveloped Pitt Street Mall, is the fifth Nespresso flagship boutique to open this year. With new flagships in Brussels, Miami, New York SoHo, Munich and now Sydney, each flagship combines signature Nespresso style while reflecting the distinct identities of the global cities each serves. More than just a retail space, each flagship and boutique plays a vital role in connecting and energising local Nespresso lovers into a vibrant brand community.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/nespresso/46316/
http://www.hairbyjohnnyg.com - Hair Salon Scottsdale. This free hair tip is brought to you courtesy of Hair by Johnny G, Hair Salon in Scottsdale, AZ. Discover new ways to look and feel amazing at http://www.hairbyjohnnyg.com. Get a glimpse of the new 3D Hair Design provided by Hair by Johnny G, located at: 10201 N Scottsdale Rd, Suite 10, Scottsdale, AZ 85258. Also serving other Arizona cities: Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler. Service zip codes: 85258, 85260, 85254, 85250, 85259, 85256, 85251, 85257, 85032. Why not make an appointment with one the best hair salons in scottsdale today? Call Johnny G at 480.235.4792 More hair tips at http://scottsdalehairbyjohnnyg.com
The Pepsi Refresh Project is giving America the power to decide how to fund good ideas, big and small, that help refresh our world. Only four months in, the Pepsi Refresh Project has funded over 100 projects and injected more than $5 million back into local communities. With 32 new grants and $1.3 million awarded each month, the impact of the Project is growing exponentially, reaching cities and towns in more than 30 states so far.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/pepsirefreshproject/44529/
Today, MetroPCS Communications Inc. (NYSE: PCS) became the first mobile operator to launch commercial 4G LTE services in the United States, offering talk, text and 4G Web access starting as low as $55 per month including taxes and regulatory fees. MetroPCS is also offering the world’s first commercially available 4G LTE enabled handset, the Samsung Craft™. Service will initially be available in Las Vegas, Nev., with service expanding into the remaining MetroPCS cities throughout the year.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/metropcs/46037/
The Pepsi Refresh Project is giving America the power to decide how to fund good ideas, big and small, that help refresh our world. Only four months in, the Pepsi Refresh Project has funded over 100 projects and injected more than $5 million back into local communities. With 32 new grants and $1.3 million awarded each month, the impact of the Project is growing exponentially, reaching cities and towns in more than 30 states so far.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/pepsirefreshproject/44529/
The Pepsi Refresh Project is giving America the power to decide how to fund good ideas, big and small, that help refresh our world. Only four months in, the Pepsi Refresh Project has funded over 100 projects and injected more than $5 million back into local communities. With 32 new grants and $1.3 million awarded each month, the impact of the Project is growing exponentially, reaching cities and towns in more than 30 states so far.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/pepsirefreshproject/44529/
Rapid urban growth in emerging nations has rarely been accompanied by foresight and planning. As economies expand, sucking more and more people into towns and cities in search of jobs and prosperity, the up-shot has too often been uncontrolled development, scant regard for building standards and an ugly urban sprawl.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/abudhabidma/42410/