Kumbh Mela is a major pilgrimage and festival in Hinduism. It is celebrated in a cycle of approximately 12 years at four river-bank pilgrimage sites: Allahabad (Ganges-Yamuna Sarasvati rivers confluence), Haridwar (Ganges), Nashik (Godavari), and Ujjain (Shipra). Millions of Hindus gather to bathe in the sacred rivers, which is believed to cleanse sins and bring blessings. It is considered the largest peaceful gathering in the world, with an estimated 120 million people attending the Allahabad Ardh Kumbh Mela in 2019. The festival also includes religious discussions, devotional singing, mass feeding of holy men and women and the poor, and a variety of cultural and religious events.
The origins of the Kumbh Mela can be traced back to ancient Hindu scriptures, such as the Puranas and the Mahabharata. According to Hindu mythology, the gods and demons fought a fierce battle over a pitcher (kumbh) filled with the nectar of immortality. During the battle, a drop of nectar fell on four different locations, which are now believed to be the sites of the Kumbh Mela: Allahabad, Haridwar, Nashik, and Ujjain.
The first historical records of the Kumbh Mela date back to the 3rd century BC during the reign of Emperor Ashoka. The Chinese traveler Huan Tsang also mentioned the festival in his 7th century AD writings.
Over the centuries, the Kumbh Mela has evolved and grown in size, with the Allahabad Kumbh Mela considered the largest and most significant. In the modern era, the Kumbh Mela is organized and managed by the government in partnership with various religious and cultural organizations. The festival is now a major tourist attraction and a showcase of India’s ancient spiritual heritage.
The dates for the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad (Prayagraj) for the next few years are as follow:
- 2022: January 14 – April 27
- 2023: January 14 – February 21
- 2025: January 14 – February 21
- 2026: January 14 – April 27
