Maha Kumbh Mela

The Maha Kumbh Mela is held every 12 years, during which time millions of Hindus gather to bathe in the holy Ganges River. It takes place in four locations: Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nasik. The festival is attended by tens of thousands of pilgrims from around the world, who gather to pray and celebrate their faith together.

The Kumbh Mela is a Hindu religious festival that celebrates the cleansing of sins and the discovery of divine knowledge. The festival occurs every 12 years when, according to Hindu mythology, all the rivers flow together at one point in Allahabad, India. It is one of the holiest occasions on Earth for Hindus, who believe that bathing in these sacred waters purifies them from past misdeeds and helps them attain moksha (liberation from earthly cycles).

The Kumbh Mela started around 1500 BCE as a pilgrimage to bathe in the Ganges River. In modern times, it has become an important part of Hindu culture—and a massive source of tourism revenue for India's capital city.

In 2014, around 70 million people attended the mela.

The first two Kumbhs were held by Rajputs who believed that they would be protected during wars by riding around on elephants during the festival. The third Kumbh was held by Jats who believed they would protect themselves against snake bites while traveling through the area's forests (which are populated with snakes). Today's festival is considered one of the largest pilgrimages in the world with more than 200 million people attending each year.

Now [Maha Kumbh Mela][1] takes place in 2025.