A person who undergoes the Kalpavasa vrata is honoured with the title of Kalpavasi.
A unique feature of the Indian Bathing Festivals is that of the Kalpavasis, who present a scene of Vanaprasthashrama Dharma. The Kalpavasis arrive during the Magh month and spend the entire month in prayer at Haridwar. They stay in makeshift houses or tents for the entire period of Kumbh Mela at Haridwar. Some avoid even the luxury of a cover over their head. Kalpavasi takes dip at the Ganges on sunrise and most of them take only a meal a day.
A Kalp is the total years in the four yugas - Satyug, Treta, Dwapar and Kalyug. This adds up to several millions of years. When a devotee performs Kalpavas, he overcomes the sins in earlier birth and escapes from the numerous rebirths.
The complete date-wise schedule of the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar, 2010 follows:
Date Name Description
January 14, 2010 (Thursday) Makar Sankranti Snan First Snan (bath)
January 15, 2010 (Friday) Mauni Amavasya and Surya Grahan (Solar Eclipse) Second Snan (bath)
January 20, 2010 (Wednesday) Basant Panchmi Snan Third Snan (bath)
January 30, 2010 (Saturday) Magh Purnima Snan Fourth Snan (bath)
February 12, 2010 (Friday) Maha Shivratri ratham Shahi Snan (First Royal Bath)
March 15, 2010 (Monday) Somvati Amavasya Dvitya Shahi Snan (Second Royal Bath)
March 24, 2010 (Wednesday) Ram Navmi Fifth Snan (bath)
March 30, 2010 (Tuesday) Chaitra Purnima Snan
April 14, 2010 (Wednesday) Baisakhi Pramukh Shahi Sanan (Main Royal Bath)
April 28, 2010 (Wednesday) Shakh Purnima Snan
The main bathing dates are 14th January, 12 February, 13th February, 15th March and 14th April.
A Kalpavasi performs Shayya Daan after completing 12 Kalpavas. Shayya Daan means ‘donating your bed.' A person
performing Shayya Daan donates all his belongings. Some believe it is like performing the last rites even though the
person is alive.
For more, check http://www.kalpavasi.com
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