What is Kumbh Mela?

The name Kumbh Mela comes from Hindi and in the original Sanskrit and other Indian languages it is more often known as Kumbha Mela. Kumbha means a pitcher, sometimes referred to as the Kalasha and Mela means 'a gathering' or 'a meet', or simple word fair. 

 Photos in Nashik Kumbhmela

Kumbh Mela is a mass Hindu Pilgrimage of faith in which Hindus gather to bathe in a sacred river. It is considered to be the largest peaceful gathering in the world where around 100 million people were expected to visit during the Maha Kumbh Mela in 2015 in Nashik. It is held every third year at one of the four places by rotation: Haridwar, Allhabad ( Prayaga), Nashik and Ujjain.Thus the Kumbh Mela is held at each of these four places every twelfth year. Ardha ("Half") Kumbh Mela is held at only two places, Haridwar and Allahabad, every sixth year. 

The places on four sacred rivers: at Haridwar on the Ganga River, at Ujjain on the Shipra, at Nasik on the Godavari, and at Prayag (Allahabad) at the confluence of the Ganges, Jamuna, and the mythical Sarasvati.

The pilgrimage is held for about one and a half months at each of these four places where it is believed in Hinduism that drops of nectar fell from the kumbha carried by gods after the sea was churned. Bathing in these rivers is thought to cleanse one of all sins. The festival is billed as the "world’s largest congregation of religious pilgrims". There is no precise method of ascertaining the number of pilgrims, and the estimates of the number of pilgrims bathing on the most auspicious day may vary; approximately 90 million people are going attend in Nashik Kumbh Mela 2015. 

Ramkund at Panchwati, Nashik

Nashik is the location for Kumbh mela in the state of Maharashtra. Millions pilgrims go to the Nasik Kumbh Mela and take a dip in the holy waters of Kushavarta at Trambakeshwar and Ramkund at Panchwati. The Kumbh at Nashik is believed to be the most sacred festival of hindus.

The Sadhus who visit the Kumbh in large numbers reside in the Tapovan which is situated at the left bank of river Godavari.

Kushavarta at Trambakeshwar, Nashik

Kumbh Mela is Depend on what position the Sun, Moon, and Jupiter hold in that period in different zodiac signs, the venue for Kumbh Mela is already decided. The calculations have been provided on the basis of below information:

Kumbh Mela at Allahabad :-

when Jupiter is in Aries or Taurus and Sun and Moon are in Capricorn during the Hindu month of Magha (January-February).

Kumbh Mela at Haridwar :-

when Jupiter is in Aquarius and Sun is in Aries during the Hindu month of Chaitra (March-April).

Kumbh Mela at Ujjain :-

when Jupiter is in Leo and Sun is in Aries, or when all three are in Libra during the Hindu month of Vaisakha (April-May).

Kumbh Mela at Nasik :-

when Sun and Jupiter are in Leo during the Hindu month of Bhadraprada (August-September).

Nashik Kumbh Mela

Sadhus in Kumbhmela