The Mahakumbh, often hailed as the largest spiritual gathering in the world, is an extraordinary festival celebrated in India. This grand event holds immense cultural, religious, and historical significance. Tens of millions of Hindus are convening this week in what is expected to be the world’s largest human gathering, where a staggering number of devotees, tourists, politicians and celebrities take sacred dips at the convergence of two holy rivers in India.
Kumbh Mela
What is the Maha Kumbh Mela?
The Maha Kumbh Mela, or “great festival of the sacred pitcher,” is the world’s largest religious ceremony. Based on a Hindu legend in which demons and gods fight over a pitcher carrying the nectar of immortality, the centuries-old ceremony centers on a series of holy baths, which Hindus say purify their sins.
The religious festival, called the Maha Kumbh Mela, happens every 12 years on the banks of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers in the northern Indian city of Prayagraj. Officials this year expect up to 400 million people — more than the population of the United States — to visit the site in Uttar Pradesh State over the next six weeks.
A major display of Hinduism, the event has recently become an important political event with the rise of Hindu nationalism, backed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s right-wing political party. It is also a massive logistical undertaking for government officials working to prevent incidents like stampedes and the spread of diseases. Here are some lesser-known facts about the Mahakumbh that make it truly unique:
1. Rotation Among Four Sacred Sites
Mahakumbh is hosted once every 12 years, rotating among four sacred locations: Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik. Each site represents a unique spiritual essence and is believed to be a place where drops of Amrit (nectar) fell during the mythical Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean).
2. Celestial Alignments Govern the Dates
The timing of the Mahakumbh is not random. It is determined by specific astronomical positions of the Sun, Moon, and Jupiter. These alignments are believed to create the most auspicious period for spiritual cleansing and achieving moksha.
3. Largest Gathering of Humanity
The Mahakumbh is recognized as the largest gathering of people on Earth. Millions of pilgrims, saints, and tourists from over 100 countries come together, making it a truly global event.
4. A UNESCO Cultural Heritage
The Mahakumbh has been inscribed on UNESCO’s list of “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.” This recognition emphasizes its deep cultural and spiritual roots.
5. A Mythological Origin
The legend of the Mahakumbh is rooted in the story of the Samudra Manthan, where gods and demons fought for the pot of Amrit. During the chase, drops of the nectar fell at the four locations where the festival is celebrated today.
6. Spiritual Processions and Akharas
The festival features grand processions by 14 prominent Akharas (monastic orders), including the famous Nagas, known for their unique rituals and attire.
7. A Global Spiritual Attraction
While deeply rooted in Indian culture, the Mahakumbh attracts spiritual seekers, photographers, and researchers from across the globe, making it a melting pot of cultures.
The Mahakumbh is more than just a festival—it is a celebration of faith, devotion, and humanity’s eternal quest for the divine.
How big is the festival?
The scale of the Maha Kumbh Mela is astonishing. The last one, in 2013, drew 120 million people in Prayagraj, according to a government estimate. An intermediate festival in 2019, though less significant religiously, attracted 240 million people.
This year, the city, home to about 6 million residents, is preparing to host 300 to 400 million people, government officials said. In preparation, the state has built a temporary campsite across a 10,000-acre area, with tens of thousands of tents and bathrooms, roads, parking lots, water and electricity infrastructure and thousands of security cameras and drones.