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Mahakumbh Mela 2025: History, Types, Significance, Shahi Snan Dates | All You Need To Know

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The Maha Kumbh Mela, the largest spiritual gathering in the world, draws millions of devotees, saints, and tourists to participate in this sacred event. Mahakumbh 2025 commenced on Monday in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj district as more than a crore of devotees took a dip at Triveni Sangam on the occasion of Paush Purnima.

History

Deeply rooted in Hindu mythology, the Kumbh Mela takes place at four significant locations in India—Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik, and Ujjain—each holding immense religious importance. The event is also recognized on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, highlighting its global cultural value.

The festival is celebrated at different times, each with its own astrological meaning. Of all the Kumbh Melas, the Maha Kumbh Mela is the most significant, often regarded as the pinnacle of spiritual gatherings.

The story of Samudra Manthan, or the Churning of the Ocean, is central to the Kumbh Mela’s origin. According to Hindu mythology, the gods (Devas) and demons (Asuras) worked together to churn the Ocean of Milk (Kshir Sagar) in order to obtain Amrita, the nectar of immortality. Using Mount Mandara as a churning rod and the serpent Vasuki as a rope, many celestial beings and objects emerged during the process, including the goddess Lakshmi, the moon god Chandra, and the divine cow Kamadhenu.

Eventually, Lord Vishnu, disguised as Mohini, distributed the Amrita to the Devas, leading to a battle between the gods and demons. It is believed that drops of the Amrita fell at four sacred places, which are the sites of the Kumbh Mela today.

The battle for the Amrita lasted 12 divine days, equating to 12 human years, which is why the Kumbh Mela is celebrated every 12 years. During this time, the rivers are believed to transform into Amrita, and pilgrims travel to bathe in the sacred waters, symbolizing purification and eternal life. In 2025, the Kumbh Mela will be held in Prayagraj from January 13 to February 26.

Types of Kumbh Mela 

Purna Kumbh Mela:
Held every 12 years at Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik, and Ujjain, the Purna Kumbh Mela is one of the largest and most significant religious events in the world. Pilgrims bathe in the holy rivers, believing it will cleanse their sins and bring them closer to salvation. The festival also includes prayers, processions, and cultural activities.

Ardh Kumbh Mela:
Taking place every six years at Haridwar and Prayagraj, the Ardh Kumbh Mela is considered a “half” Kumbh, falling between the full Kumbh Melas. It attracts millions of devotees who bathe in the holy rivers to purify themselves and seek spiritual liberation.

Kumbh Mela:
Held every three years at four sacred sites—Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik, and Ujjain—the Kumbh Mela is the world’s largest religious gathering. Pilgrims gather to bathe in the holy rivers, believing it will cleanse their sins and bring them closer to salvation.

Maha Kumbh Mela:
The Maha Kumbh Mela is the largest and most significant Hindu pilgrimage, held every 144 years. It occurs after 12 cycles of the twelve-year Purna Kumbh, aligning with highly auspicious planetary positions. It is the largest peaceful gathering of humans, with millions of pilgrims engaging in rituals, particularly the sacred bathing ceremony in the rivers. The Maha Kumbh Mela holds great cultural and spiritual significance.

Magh Kumbh Mela:
Held annually in the month of Magh at various sacred locations, the Magh Kumbh Mela is a smaller version of the larger Kumbh Mela. It features ritual bathing, religious teachings, and community fairs.

Important Dates

The Mahakumbh Mela 2025 began today on January 13, 2025, with the Paush Purnima Snan, and will conclude on February 26, 2025, aligning with Maha Shivratri.

‘Shahi Snan’ Dates 

January 13, 2025 Paush Purnima Snan (Opening Day)
January 15, 2025 Makar Sankranti Snan
January 29, 2025 Mauni Amavasya Snan (Royal Bath/Shahi Snan)
February 3, 2025 Basant Panchami Snan (Royal Bath/Shahi Snan)
February 12, 2025 Maghi Purnima Snan
February 26, 2025 Maha Shivratri Snan (Concluding Day

How to reach Kumbh Mela by air: 

Prayagraj Domestic Airport is located around 12 km from the city center and offers flights to key domestic cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Bhubaneswar, and Raipur. For the Kumbh Mela, direct flights from Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, and Guwahati have been added. Taxis and city buses are easily accessible from the airport to take visitors to the Kumbh Mela parking area.

How to reach Kumbh Mela by road: 

Prayagraj is connected through an extensive road network, making it accessible for road travelers. The NH2 (Delhi-Kolkata Highway) is a prime route offering scenic views and easy access. Moreover, regular bus services, both state-run and private, link Prayagraj to nearby cities such as Varanasi, Lucknow, and Kanpur.

How to reach Kumbh Mela by train: 

To manage the surge of visitors for the Kumbh Mela, 13,000 trains will link Prayagraj with major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Jaipur, including 3,000 special trains.

Special trains for Kumbh:

Several special trains have been launched, with routes from Guntur, Moula Ali, and Nanded to Prayagraj and nearby areas, ensuring smooth travel for pilgrims. South Central Railway (SCR) has also introduced 16 special trains for the event.

Where to stay?

With the anticipated arrival of millions of pilgrims, accommodation arrangements have been a key focus.

The Prayagraj Kumbh Mela Authority and the Uttar Pradesh State Government have made thorough preparations to host the expected 450 million (45 crore) visitors.

The Uttar Pradesh government, under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has established several temporary tent cities near the Triveni Sangam, offering a wide range of accommodation options, from premium tents and makeshift shelters to dormitories, according to the official Kumbh website.

Additionally, the Union Ministry of Tourism, through the India Tourism Development Corporation, has set up 80 luxury accommodations in the tent city of Prayagraj, and the IRCTC is also providing luxury tents to accommodate the large number of pilgrims and tourists during the Maha Kumbh.

All other information related to accommodation, how to reach, directions, attractions, parking details, tourist guide, and visitors’ guide are all available on the Mahakumbh 2025 website.

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