Maha Kumbh 2025: A Religious Mega Event Blending History, Mythology And Astrology

With a diverse assemblage of millions of 'Saadhus', ascetics, tourists, and pilgrims from across the nation and beyond attending Maha Kumbh 2025, the world's largest religious congregation kickstarted in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj on January 13 (Makar Sankranti). The 44-day-long religious festival will conclude on February 26 (Maha Shivratri).

The Maha Kumbh is considered the most important event in the Hindu religious almanac as the religious gathering takes place every 144 years based on a particular celestial alignment of the sun, moon, and Jupiter.

What further adds to its religious significance is the participation of the seers belonging to all 13 'akharas' of the Hindu religion. The 13 Akharas, are divided into three main groups — Sanyasi (Shaivite), Bairagi (Vaishnav), and Udaseen.

Historically, owing to their significant role in preserving Hindu traditions, the 'akharas' are revered as the custodians of the Kumbh Mela, where they perform essential rituals and take part in the central sacred event called ‘Amrit Snan’ (holy bath) at Triveni Sangam, the sacred confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers. This holy dip in Ganga is believed to cleanse one of sins and lead to spiritual liberation (moksha).

'Ardha', 'Purna', 'Maha': Know about the types of Kumbh

To celebrate faith and spirituality, Kumbh Mela is held every 12 years at one of the four holy locations in India—Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik. In total, there are four different types of Kumbh Melas, each with unique characteristics.

• Kumbh Mela: This is held every 4 years. The venue of Kumbh Mela keeps rotating among the above-mentioned four sacred locations.

• Ardh-Kumbh Mela: This one occurs every 6 years only in Prayagraj and Haridwar.

• Purna-Kumbh Mela: This is celebrated every 12 years. Although the venue keeps changing, Prayagraj hosts the most significant gatherings.

• Maha Kumbh Mela: The rarest one that occurs every 144 years.

From Maurya and Gupta period to present day: History of Kumbh

The historical reference of the first the Kumbh Mela takes us back to the Maurya and Gupta periods, approximately from the 4th century BCE to the 6th century CE. 

Later on, in the medieval period, Maha Kumbh Mela evolved into a grander religious congregation when both the Chola and Vijayanagar dynasties in the south and the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire in the north, played instrumental roles in promoting and supporting the Kumbh Mela. History also witnessed an alliance forged between the Mughal Emperor Akbar and the Naga Sadhus.

During the colonial era, European observers including British colonial administrator James Prinsep documented the Kumbh Mela and highlighted its rich historical significance and ritualistic practices.

Kumbh Mela earned further importance in 1947 with India's independence when the first government of independent India recognized the cultural and spiritual importance of the Maha Kumbh.

In today's context, the Kumbh Mela has evolved into the largest religious gathering in the world, drawing millions of domestic pilgrims alongside significant international attention. UNESCO recognised Kumbh Mela as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2017.

Samudra Manthan: The mythological narrative

While the Sanskrit word 'kumbh' stands for pitcher or pot, the origin of the Maha Kumbh Mela stems from the ancient Hindu legend of 'Samudra Manthan' or the churning of the cosmic ocean which was mentioned in Rigveda.

In the popular mythological narrative, the event of 'Samudra Manthan' is the saga of gods and demons working together to churn the ocean to retrieve 'amrita', the elixir of immortality, following which Dhanvantri, the revered God of Ayurveda emerged carrying a pitcher of 'amrita.'

Mythology says, to save the pitcher from the demons, God Indra라이브 바카라 son, Jayant, ran off with the pot while the Sun, his son Shani (Saturn), Brihaspati (the planet Jupiter), and the Moon went along with Jayant to protect him and the pitcher. It was when running with the pot that Jayant spilled 'amrita' at four spots-- Haridwar, Prayagraj, Ujjain, and Nashik-Trimbakeshwar which later got designated as the holy spots for Kumbh Mela.

Jayant ran for 12 days to reach heaven with the pitcher and as it is said that one day of the Gods is equal to one year of humans, Kumbh Mela is celebrated at these locations every 12 years, based on the relative positions of the Sun, the Moon, and Jupiter.

Celestial alignment

The Maha Kumbh Mela is scheduled based on a particular planetary alignment where Jupiter plays a key role. Astrologers say that Jupiter라이브 바카라 12-year-long orbit around the Sun aligns it periodically with particular zodiac signs that signify auspicious times. During this period, Jupiter enters a specific alignment coinciding with the Sun and Moon라이브 바카라 positions.

Kumbh Mela venue determination is also based on astrological calculations. As per the official website, when Jupiter is in Aquarius or Kumbh rashi, and Sun and Moon in Aries and Sagittarius respectively, Kumbh is held at Haridwar.

When the Jupiter is in Taurus, and the Sun and Moon are in Capricorn or Makar (thus, Makar Sankranti is also in this period) the Kumbh is held at Prayag.

When Jupiter is in Leo or Simha, and the Sun and Moon in Cancer, the Kumbh is held at Nashik and Trimbakeshwar, which is why they are also called the Simhastha Kumbh.