If there’s one festival in India that’s larger-than-life, it must be the Maha Kumbh Mela. The 2025 Kumbh Mela is particularly significant because it is a Maha (Great) Kumbh Mela, which occurs only once every 144 years at Prayagraj.

Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India, is being celebrated this year from January 14 to February 26 and is a major spiritual event.

Millions will come to the Triveni Sangam (triple-braid of rivers) to participate in holy rituals.

The term “Kumbh” is a Sanskrit word for a pot or pitcher, also referred to as “Kalash.” Kumbh is also the Sanskrit name for the zodiac sign Aquarius, under which this celebration takes place. The word Mela means fair or gathering.

Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad) holds immense spiritual significance as it is the site of the Triveni Sangam (triple-braid of rivers), the confluence of three sacred rivers—the Ganges, the Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati.

It was previously known as Allahabad. It is a place rich in ancient history and has been a center of learning and pilgrimage for centuries.

The city is mentioned in Hindu scriptures like the Rig Veda and Mahabharata, which refer to it as Prayag (the “place of offerings”). 

The Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers, is the spiritual epicenter of Kumbh Mela.

Pilgrims come from across the globe to take a boat ride to the confluence, where they can witness the merging of the three rivers.

The Ganges is often called Maa Ganga. According to legend, Bhagirath, a king of ancient India, performed severe penance to bring the Ganga down from the sky to earth to purify the souls of his ancestors. 

It is believed that bathing in the Ganga, known as the river of heaven, frees one from their past sins (karma), which liberates one from the cycle of birth and death.

The Yamuna is highly revered as a symbol of divine love and devotion. Its waters are believed to have the power to wash away worldly attachments.

The Saraswati River is no longer visible and is considered the goddess of wisdom, music, and learning. It is believed to flow invisibly beneath the Sangam.

The roots of the Maha Kumbh Mela can be traced back to ancient scriptures. It all starts with the Samudra Manthan, or the churning of the ocean, one of the most popular stories from the Puranas.

The devas (gods) and asuras (demons) were locked in a tug-of-war claiming the nectar of immortality, or Amrit, which was hidden in the ocean’s depths.

With Lord Vishnu’s guidance, they decided to churn the ocean together using Mount Mandara as the churning rod and the serpent Vasuki as the rope. Lord Vishnu himself took the form of Kasava or tortoise and provided the base for the mountain.

As the churning began, several divine treasures and beings emerged from the ocean. The first to emerge in this churning was a venomous poison which was consumed by Lord Shiva, who, upon drinking this poison, came to be called the Nilkantha.

The churning continued, and emerged the divine pot, or Kumbh, of Amrit. Son of Lord Indra, Jayanta, catching sight of the pot filled with nectar, snatched it from the hands of God Dhanvantari. Noticing this, Lord Shukracharya, the Guru of demons, alerted the demons, who then chased Jayanta.

The four places where Jayanta had put down the Amrit Kalash while running were Haridwar, Prayag, Nashik-Trimbakeshwar, and Ujjain.

These are the sites where the Kumbh Mela is held.

The nectar pot was saved from the demons by God Brihaspati with the help of the Sun, his son Lord Shani, and the Moon, who saved the nectar Kumbh from getting damaged.

This story stands as a profound allegory. The ocean represents the mind, while the churning symbolizes each individual’s relentless struggle between good and evil forces.

The nectar of immortality signifies the ultimate goal of spiritual enlightenment and liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

Now that we know the backstory, let’s get into the timing of the Purna Kumbh Mela. Why does it occur every 12 years?

The festival occurs based on specific astrological alignments. When the Sun, Moon, and Jupiter, three of Vedic astrology’s most influential celestial bodies, line up in certain zodiac signs, it’s thought that the sacred rivers gain divine energy.

For the Kumbh Mela to occur in Prayagraj, Jupiter must be positioned in the zodiac sign of Taurus, while the Sun and Moon must align in Capricorn during the month of Magha in the Hindu lunar calendar.

Jupiter completes its orbit around the Sun in roughly 12 years. Hence, the Kumbh Mela is celebrated every 12 years, aligning with Jupiter’s orbit. This cycle serves as the fundamental principle in establishing the festival’s timing at each of the four sacred sites.

• Normal Kumbh Mela is held every three years, rotating between Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik, and Ujjain.
• The Ardh (Half) Kumbh Mela, is held every six years at Haridwar and Prayagraj.
• Purna Kumbh Mela is celebrated every twelve years at the four sacred locations.
• Maha Kumbh is celebrated at Prayagraj every 144 years, which is after 12 ‘Purna Kumbh Melas’.
• The smaller Magh Mela occurs annually in Prayagraj.

The Kumbh Mela is known for lively discussions about philosophy and religion. Scholars and spiritual leaders talk about many topics, from ancient texts to modern social issues.

These discussions, usually in busy open spaces, attract big crowds and provide a great chance for people to learn more about complex spiritual and philosophical ideas.

The lively sharing of ideas at the Kumbh Mela greatly impacts the spread of knowledge and helps preserve India’s rich intellectual heritage.

Also, the Kumbh Mela is key to preserving traditional Hindu practices and rituals. In a fast-changing world, where many ancient traditions may fade, the Kumbh Mela provides a place for age-old rituals to be performed, ensuring they are passed down to future generations.

The festival inspires younger generations to actively engage and learn, ensuring that these time-honored practices remain vibrant and essential.

While the scriptures give us the “why”, historians have tried to uncover the “when” of the first Kumbh Mela.

The tradition of gathering at rivers has lasted for centuries. The Skanda Purana links the astrological events that mark the four Kumbh Melas with the holy places where nectar is said to have fallen.

The modern version of the Maha Kumbh Mela—as we know it today—began during the reign of King Harshavardhana in the 7th century CE.

Also, the famous Chinese Buddhist traveler Xuanzang (or Hiuen Tsang) documented his visit to a grand religious gathering on the banks of the River Ganga in Prayagraj when he visited India between 629 and 645 CE.

He shares his experiences of the pilgrims’ gathering and King Harsha’s generosity during the “age-long festival” in the month of Magh (January–February).

Throughout the medieval period, the Kumbh Mela became an important event, highlighting its role beyond religious practice. It was a key place for political and social interactions, where rulers and kings participated to seek blessings, show their devotion, and enhance their legitimacy.

The Mela became a lively place for religious debates and sharing knowledge, where scholars and philosophers gathered to discuss spiritual and theological topics.

The British colonial period saw improvement in the festival’s logistics, including improved infrastructure like roads, railways, and sanitation facilities to better manage the growing number of pilgrims.

Thereafter, the Kumbh Mela became a strong symbol of unity and resistance during the Indian independence movement, with leaders like Mahatma Gandhi recognizing its role in rallying people for a united and culturally rich India.

In the modern era, the Kumbh Mela has continued to expand, drawing millions of participants from around the world.

1. Prayagraj (Allahabad) in Uttar Pradesh, India.
2. Haridwar is situated on the banks of the River Ganga. Haridwar (Hardwar) is located on the foothills of Shivaliks of the Himalayan Range in the state of Uttarakhand.
3. Nashik in Maharashtra lies on the banks of the Godavari River, the second-longest river in India, and is often referred to as the Ganga of the South. Nashik is believed to be part of Dandakaranya, where Lord Rama lived during his exile. It is said that Godavari emerged on the earth due to the tapa of sage Gautama.
4. Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh is home to the Kshipra River, another sacred water body.

It is believed that taking a dip in the rivers at these holy locations during the Kumbh washes away sins and leads to Moksha (liberation from the cycle of life and death).

1. The Kumbh Mela is one of the oldest religious gatherings on the riverside. It is not for a temple or a deity.
2. It is recognized as one of the largest religious peaceful gatherings in the world.
3. The festival is a key cultural and religious event recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This important title highlights the Kumbh Mela’s significance to Hindus and people worldwide. It represents a living tradition that embodies the values of peace, spirituality, and human unity.

The Kumbh Mela is a beautiful blend of history, faith, and community. It’s not just about taking a dip in a river; it’s about immersing yourself in something much bigger—a tradition that has connected generations for centuries.

The festival plays a key role in shaping India’s cultural Identity. It goes beyond its religious roots and is a strong symbol of unity in spirit and society.

The Kumbh Mela is a strong symbol of India’s spiritual heritage; it connects us to our past and acts as a guiding light in a rapidly changing world.

So, the next time you hear about the Kumbh Mela, you’ll know it’s not just an event. Its history, religion, spirituality, and humanity rolled into one epic celebration. Who’s ready for a holy dip?

Sources:

mahakumbh.in

kumbhmela.com

Divya BR, Keshavamurthy. Review study of
kumbh mela as a pilgrimage site. Yoga Mimamsa 2020;52:88-95.