Maha Kumbh Mela is a massive Hindu pilgrimage and festival held once every 12 years at Prayagraj, India, where millions of devotees gather for ritual bathing in the sacred Sangam (confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers) to cleanse sins and attain spiritual liberation. The festival includes religious discourses, processions of sadhus (holy men), mass feasts, and cultural performances, and it has been practiced in its current form for over 1,300 years, with origins tracing back to ancient Hindu chronology. Occurring in a 12-year cycle, the next Maha Kumbh Mela will take place in 2037, while smaller versions, Ardh Kumbh Mela (every 6 years) occur at four rotating locations.

The word ‘Kumbh’ in Sanskrit means ‘pot of nectar’, the word ‘Mela’ means ‘festival’, and the word ‘Maha’ means ‘great’.

The Sangam is mentioned in the Rigveda, the oldest literature in human history. There is substantial evidence that the now extinct river Saraswati was a vibrant river at the time when the Rigveda was composed. It is mentioned 133 times in the Rigveda. It should be noted that, according to Hindu chronology, the Rigveda was composed in Satya Yuga (~3,893,102 years ago). Other ancient Hindu texts, like the Bhagavata Purana, Brahma Purana, Vishnu Purana, Varaha Purana, Matsya Purana, etc. describe that the ‘pot of nectar’ (Kumbh) was discovered during Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean). This nectar is believed to endow immortality, the highest form of spirituality.
Sangam is also mentioned in the oldest epic in human history, Ramayana. According to Hindu chronology, the events of Ramayana occurred in Treta Yuga (one of the four major epochs of time, according to Vedic knowledge). That puts the existence of Sangam at least ~1,296,000 years ago. Sangam, along with the Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean) is also mentioned in Mahabharata, which is supposed to have happened during the Dwapara Yuga, which apparently ended ~5,129 years ago. While contemporary thinking may question these timelines, it cannot be denied there is a remarkable continuity and consistency in the description of the existence of Sangam. This, in turn, speaks to an extraordinary longevity, resilience, and relevance of Vedic knowledge.

The earliest known historical reference to the Kumbh Mela is found in the writings of the Chinese traveler Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang), who visited India in the 7th century CE during the reign of King Harsha (606–647 CE). Xuanzang described a grand religious gathering at Prayagraj (then known as Prayag), where millions of devotees participated in a ritual bathing festival, which aligns with modern descriptions of Kumbh Mela.

Later, in the 8th century CE, the great Hindu philosopher Adi Shankaracharya is believed to have formalized and promoted the tradition of gathering saints, sages, and devotees at sacred river confluences for spiritual discussions and ritual bathing.

The exact length of each Maha Kumbh Mela is determined in advance based on planetary positions, lunar cycles, and religious traditions. Using these alignments, it is determined to last between 40 and 55 days.  This year’s (2025) was 45 days (January 13th – February 26th).

This year (2025), it is estimated that 663 million people participated in Kumbh over the 45-day span—setting a record for the largest human gathering ever. On just the final day of Kumbh (February 26th), it is estimated that 15.3 million people participated. Additionally, it is estimated that roughly 3 million foreigners participated in the festival. For comparison, during the last Maha Kumbh Mela, just 100 million people participated.

The 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, India, coincided with a rare planetary alignment occurring on February 28, 2025, where all seven planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) will all be visible simultaneously in the night sky. Such an alignment is an uncommon event, with the previous occurrence decades ago and the next anticipated in 2040.

Additionally, this year's festival was marked by a unique astrological configuration known as 'Triveni Yog,' a celestial alignment that happens once every 144 years, enhancing the spiritual significance of the event.

Therefore, while the seven-planet alignment visible is rare and occurs approximately once every few decades, the specific 'Triveni Yog' alignment associated with the Maha Kumbh Mela is an even rarer event, occurring once every 144 years. This celestial event is characterized by the conjunction of the Sun, Moon, and Mercury in the zodiac sign of Capricorn (Makar Rashi), while Jupiter casts its ninth aspect (Navam Drishti) on them. This unique configuration is believed to enhance spiritual benefits, making periods like the Maha Kumbh Mela particularly significant for devotees.