Allahabad Kumbh Mela, Uttar Pradesh
The Allahabad Kumbh Mela or Prayagraj Kumbh Mela is one such grand mega gathering where devotees assemble in numbers to be a part of the sacred festival. Held at an interval of every 12 years at Prayag in Allahabad (renamed as Prayagraj), the Allahabad Kumbh is truly a one of its kind event.
There is no such exact date as regards to the starting of the mela but is determined with accordance to Hindu astrology with a certain special planetary positions. This mela is held during the month of either January or February. One of the high points of this Allahabad Kumbh mela is the ritualistic bathing of the visitors at the confluence of three rivers namely- the Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati, popularised and known as Triveni Sangam which is believed to relieve them from their past sins and make them pure totally.
The last of the Allahabad Kumbh Mela took place in the year 2013 where a massive number of visitors gathered, the figure estimated to be as many as nearly 120 million and thereby making the mela the world’s largest gathering for any religious occasion. With the Allahabad Kumbh taking place in 2013, the following Allahabad Kumbh is scheduled to be held somewhere in 2025 and the Ardh Kumbh six years before that i.e. in 2019.
Millions and millions of devotees travelling from distant places come to this mela to have a feel of the holiness and piousness of the place. Opinions are not unanimous as to when this mela first began. However, since this mela finds its mention in the Puranas; there is no doubt or denying over the fact that it dates back at least to the early centuries CE.
Not only Hindus but people of other religions and many foreigners also come from far off places to witness this mega fair.