KUMBH MELA IN CALIFORNIA ON SEPT 10 06

1. First Kumbha Mela In The USA

www.usakumbhamela.net

IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, August 18, 2006: (HPI note: Following is a press release from the organizers.) The first Kumbha Mela in the USA is being organized on September 10, 2006 at Bren Center, University of California Irvine, to usher in peace by infusing collective positivity. In India for thousands of years, millions of yogis, masters and saints have come together every 12 years at auspicious planetary convergences, to bring healing energy to the planet, and share information about spiritual practices. The Kumbha Mela in India brings 70 million people together, and is the largest spiritual gathering in the world. Now for the first time, the Kumbha Mela will take place in the USA. The Kumbha Mela USA is organized under the auspices of Paramahamsa Nithyananda, Nithyananda Foundation; Swami Ishwarananda, Chinmaya Mission; Swami Sarvadevananda, Vedanta Society; Dr. Acharya Yogeesh, Yogeesh Ashram; and the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh.

On September 10, 2006, thousands of spiritual aspirants, yogis, masters and spiritual leaders will converge in California to usher in the cosmic energy to create more peace on planet Earth. The highlights of the celebration include a powerful Vishwa Shanti Yagna, a Vedic style fire ceremony to invoke peace energy through one of the purest elements of nature--fire, an abhishekam, or offering of water from 21 holy rivers of India to all the Deities present, and a grand procession with participation by various spiritual organizations from across the country. Homas and aratis will add to the festivities and mahaprasad, or energized food for offering to everyone, will be prepared from rice collected from thousands of homes. This day-long event starts at 2:00 p.m.