Menu
An Initiative of Travelogy India Pvt. Ltd.
'Orient Rail Journeys' is a brand of 'Travelogy India Private Limited'. All payments related to train tours and services should be in the name of 'Travelogy India Private Limited' only.
Travelogy India Pvt. Ltd.

Approved by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India

Kumbh Mela - The Largest Peaceful Gathering in India

  • Admin
  • 22 May 2023
  • Share This:

As everyone knows India is a spiritual country where you can see different religious customs and traditions in every corner and street. Most importantly, some places in India are very popular and known to the entire world due to mystical huge celebrations and religious processions. Among such like celebrations, Kumbh Mela is one. Due to its popularity and craze, Kumbh Mela was recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2007.

Now we go through this fair to know about the importance of fair.

What is Kumbh Mela?

Kumbh Mela is a two months mythological fair in India which is coming from 2000 years back. This fair will takes place at four different spots periodically and the places are Haridwar, Allahabad / Prayag, Nashik, and Ujjain. Actually, for once every 12 years, Kumbh Mela will take place. But periodically, for once every 3 years, Kumbh Mela will take place in a different spot in cyclic order. During the fair, all Hindu pilgrims in the whole India gather at the banks of holy rivers to take bath to get rid of sins they had done.

Also read : Best Festivals in August in India

Where is the Kumbh Mela Held?

As mentioned above, Kumbh Mela will take place at four places.

  • At Godavari river in Nashik.
  • At Ganges river in Haridwar.
  • At the confluence of Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers known as Sangam in Prayag.
  • At Shipra river in Ujjain.

These four river banks are the venues of Kumbha Mela celebrations. For once every consecutive 3 years Kumbha Mela will take place in cyclic order in these places.

Variance in Kumbh Mela

We know that Kumbh Mela takes place at different places in consecutive years. But some of them are very special and important. The most important Kumbh Mela fairs are “Maha Kumbh Mela” and “Ardh Kumbh Mela”.

1. Maha Kumbh Mela

Maha Kumbh Mela will take place for once every 12 years. This fair will be held at the confluence of three holy rivers known as Sangam in Prayag. Among all Kumbh Mela fairs, Maha Kumbh Mela is very special and important. During this Mela, people crowd will reach in crore numbers.

2. Ardh Kumbh Mela

Ardh Kumbh Mela will take place in the half of 12 years span means in the 6th year. It means for once 6 years this Mela will take place. And the venue of this fair is both Prayag and Haridwar.

3. Maagh Mela

Apart from these two Melas, Maagh Mela is another one which takes place every year in the month of Maagh according to the Hindu calendar. The venue of this fair will takes place at Sangam in prayag in between January to February.

These three Melas are very important and auspicious to the Hindu pilgrims. During these Melas, celebrations, and processions at the banks of rivers will extend to high.

The History behind the Kumbh Mela

According to the Hindu myths, Once the demigods (Devtas) lost their powers. To get their powers back they had a deal with demons(Asuras) to churn the Milk Ocean to get out the nectar of immortality and to share it equally.

To churn the milk ocean Mandara mountain and Vasukhi (the king of Serpents) was used as churning rod and rope. After that, for years they churned the ocean but at first, poison came out. Finally, the nectar of immortality known as “Amrit” was brought out by Dhanwantari in a pot.

Then demigods thought that if this Amrit is taken by demons means evil spirits will be immortal. So, they decided to not to share the Amrit with demons. The demons got the point that the agreement was broken. And they started fighting with the demigods. Then the celestial vehicle of Lord Vishnu “Garuda” had flown away with the nectar pot. At that time drops of the nectar was fallen in four places. And these four places are prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik. That’s why at these four places Kumbh Mela will be held.

As the nectar of immortality was brought in a pot that’s why this fair is named as “Kumbh Mela”. Kumbh Means pot or pitcher and Mela means fair. This is the story behind the Kumbh Mela.

Ritual Performed at the Kumbh Mela

Kumbh Mela is everything about Hindu rituals, chanting of mantras, mythological processions, akharas (saints) and etc a lot. During the Kumbh Mela, millions of people visit the fair daily. The crowd at the fair seems like whole India population is at the place. An important part of the festival is the sect of sadhus or saints from different places around India. When the Kumbh Mela starts different sects of sadhus in India will head to the Kumbh Mela region. For them, this fair is very important.

Sacred Ritual Baths

A very important ritual here everyone follow is taking river bath during the full moon day. This day is called “Shahi Snan” means royal bath. On this day from morning 3:00 A.M people will start taking baths in the river ghats. They believe that if they take bath in these sacred river waters during on these auspicious days their sins will be washed out. On this day you can see different types of sadhus drowning in waters. They are very special to this fair.

Different Sects of Sadhus at the Kumbh Mela

Different types of sadhus will come to the places where Kumbh Mela took place. At Kumbh Mela events you can see and listen to different types of sadhus. On Shahi Snan day number of sadhus will attend the ritual river baths. Simply, their presence in the fair enlightens the spirituality and harmony. Have a look at the different sects of sadhus in Kumbh Mela.

1. Nagas

Saints with naked bodies means without clothes are known as Nagas. All over the body smeared with ash and long matted hair, is the way of style of Nagas. This type of saints lives in the Himalayas region that’s why their bodies are resistant to all climatic conditions. Among all saints, Nagas are very popular and important to the Mela.

2. Kalpvasis

This type of saints always meditates in them at the river banks and they perform some spiritual activities. They spend more times at the banks of rivers by bathing a number of times and meditating silently.

3. Urdhwavahurs

This group of saints performs some holy spiritual practices. Urdhwavahurs look very thin with bone structured bodies. This type of saints is very well-known for ritual performs.

4. Parivajakash

Parivajakash saints don’t talk to anyone. They will promise not to talk in their life. They used to carry a bell and ring to symbolize their presence.

5. Shirshasinse

Among all saints, this type of saints are very different and peculiar. They always live in meditation and sleeping. They meditate by placing their heads to the downward and legs to upside and they will sleep also like this only by taking a support back.

When is the Next Kumbh Mela?

  • Ardh Kumbh Mela in Allahabad (prayag) 2019.
  • Kumbh Mela in Haridwar 2022
  • Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad (prayag) 2025.
  • Kumbh Mela in Nashik 2027.

These are the upcoming Kumbh Mela events going take place.

Bathing Dates for Kumbh Mela

Ardh Kumbh Mela which takes place for once every six years is going to takes place in Allahabad at prayag. The fair will last for 2 months from January 15 to March 4 in the year 2019.

Here are the important bath dates of Ardh Kumbh Mela in 2019.

  • 15 January 2019 on Makar Sankranti (1st Shahi Snan).
  • 21 January 2019 on Paush Purnima.
  • 4 February 2019 on Mauni Amavasya (2nd Shahi Snan).
  • 10 February 2019 on Basant Panchami (3rd Shahi Snan).
  • 19 February 2019 on Maghi Purnima.
  • 4 March 2019 on Maha Shivratri.

This is the complete schedule of upcoming Ardh Kumbh Mela in 2019. Important dates for Shahi Snan are 15 January, 4 February, and 10 February.

If you are planning to be a part of Kumbh Mela than you can traveled with the luxury trains. Famous trains are:

Further Read:


You May Also Know About Popular Luxury Trains on India:-