【亚洲·印度】圣壶节 Kumbh Mela（2017年）

Kumbh Mela（神圣水罐节）是地球上最大的和平朝圣者聚集地，参与者在此期间在神圣的河流中洗澡或泡个澡。奉献者相信，通过在恒河中沐浴，一个人可以从罪恶中解脱出来，将她/他从生与死的循环中解放出来。数百万人未经任何邀请就到达了这个地方。会众包括苦行僧、圣徒、萨德胡斯、有抱负的人和访客。该节日每四年在阿拉哈巴德、哈里德瓦、乌贾因和纳西克轮流举行，有数百万人参加，不分种姓、信仰或性别。然而，它的主要持有者属于阿克哈达和道场、宗教组织，或者是靠施舍生活的个人。Kumbh Mela在这个国家扮演着核心的精神角色，对普通印度人产生了迷人的影响。它包含了丰富的天文学和文化习俗。由于它在印度四个不同的城市举行，它涉及不同的社会和文化活动，这使它成为一个文化多样性的节日。与传统有关的知识和技能通过古代宗教手稿、口述传统、历史游记和著名历史学家的文本传播。然而，道场和阿克哈达斯中的萨德胡人的师生关系仍然是传授和保护与金刚弥勒有关的知识和技能的最重要方法。

2017年度列入人类非物质文化遗产名录。

来源：联合国教科文组织亚太地区非物质文化遗产国际培训中心

Kumbh Mela (the festival of the sacred Pitcher) is the largest peaceful congregation of pilgrims on earth, during which participants bathe or take a dip in a sacred river. Devotees believe that by bathing in the Ganges one is freed from sins liberating her/him from the cycle of birth and death. Millions of people reach the place without any invitation. The congregation includes ascetics, saints, sadhus, aspirants-kalpavasis and visitors. The festival is held at Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik every four years by rotation and is attended by millions of people irrespective of caste, creed or gender. Its primary bearers, however, belong to akhadas and ashrams, religious organizations, or are individuals living on alms. Kumbh Mela plays a central spiritual role in the country, exerting a mesmeric influence on ordinary Indians. The event encapsulates the science of astronomy, astrology, spirituality, ritualistic traditions, and social and cultural customs and practices, making it extremely rich in knowledge. As it is held in four different cities in India, it involves different social and cultural activities, making this a culturally diverse festival. Knowledge and skills related to the tradition are transmitted through ancient religious manuscripts, oral traditions, historical travelogues and texts produced by eminent historians. However, the teacher-student relationship of the sadhus in the ashrams and akhadas remains the most important method of imparting and safeguarding knowledge and skills relating to Kumbh Mela.

Included in the list of human intangible cultural heritage in 2017.

Source: UNESCO International Training Center for intangible cultural heritage in the Asia Pacific Region