Kumbh Mela is the most sacred pilgrimage among Hindu pilgrimages. This festival is celebrated in Haridwar with an interval of twelve years.
पद्मिनी नायके मेषे कुम्भराशि गते गुरौ ।
गंगा द्वारे भवेद्योगः कुम्भनाम्रातदोत्तमः ॥
During the churning of the sea, a ghada full of Amrit also emerged. There was a struggle for Amrit between the bhagwan and the rakshas. At the command of Devraj Indra, when his son Jayant was trying to run away with Amrit Kumbh, some rakshas followed him. The struggle for Amrit-Kumbh continued for twelve days in heaven and a few drops of Amrit fell at four places from that Kumbh. These places were Haridwar, Prayag, Ujjain and Nashik on earth. The holy rivers of these places got credit for receiving drops of Amrit.
Kumbh is held in each place equally after twelve years. The count of heaven for the Amrit-Kumbh led to a struggle for twelve days, which is the same as twelve years for the people of the earth. Different nakshtra and dates of Kumbh festival are fixed in each place.
The ghada is also called Kumbh, so the huge spiritual ceremony of these Amrit-derived places came to be known as Kumbh.
| Related Name | Haridwar Kumbh Mela, Haridwar Kumbh Snan, Haridwar Maha Kumbh |
| Begins Tithi | Makar Sankranti |
| Celebrations | Daan, Ganga Snaan, Bathing on River |
Updated: Jan 12, 2026 11:48 AM