Kumbh Mela 2025 (January 14th to February 26th) - Date, Places and Rituals

Kumbh Mela in 2025 will take place from January 14th to February 26th in Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad), India, It lasts for 44 days.

Kumbh Mela is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage in India. It is the world's largest religious gathering. About 100 million devotees partake in the sacred ritual of taking dips in the holy waters. The event is celebrated every few years and rotates between four cities: Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik, and Ujjain. During the event, millions of devotees gather on the banks of sacred rivers to cleanse their sins through ritual bathing.

When Is Kumbh Mela 2025 and Where Will It Take Place?

Kumbh Mela in 2025 will take place from January 14th to February 26th in Prayagraj, India at Triveni Sangam, which is the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna, and the mythical Sarasvati River.

The event is held in four cities — Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik — one per 3 years on a 12-year rotation.

The Activities Schedule for Kumbh Mela 2025

What Are the Four Places to Host the Kumbh Mela?

The four cities in India to host the Kumbh Mela are Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik. Kumbh Mela takes place on the banks of certain holy rivers.

In Prayagraj: at Triveni Sangam, the holy confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna, and the Sarasvati River in Magh (January/February) when Jupiter is in Taurius (or Aries) and the sun (and moon) are in Capricorn (last Full Kumbh Mela held in 2013, with a half Kumbh Mela in 2019)

In Haridwar: on the banks of the Ganges, when Jupiter is in Aquarius and the Sun in Aries (last held in 2021 from April 1 to 30)

In Ujjain: on the banks of the holy Shipra In Nashik: on the banks of the Godavari.

In Nashik: on the banks of the Godavari

How Often Does Kumbh Mela Happen?

Kumbh Mela is typically celebrated six times every 12 years, but there are several variations.

• Full Kumbh Mela: This is held every 12 years at Haridwar, Prayagraj, Nashik, and Ujjain. So a Full Kumbh Mela is held on average every 3 years at one of the four locations
•  Half Kumbh Mela (Ardh Kumbh Mela): Held every 12 years in the cities of Prayagraj and Haridwar in India, half way between their Full Kumbh Mela years, e.g. for Prayagraj: 2013 Full Kumbh, 2019 Half Kumbh, 2025 Full Kumbh, 2031 Half Kumbh, and so on.

Sometimes there is disagreement about the dates, so two Kumbh Melas are held on consecutive years at one location.

As the festival marks Jupiter's orbit of 11.86 years, Kumbh Mela is celebrated at each location after 11 years instead of 12 once a century.

When Is the Kumbh Mela held at the Four Places?

Each Kumbh Mela location corresponds to a season:

• Prayagraj corresponds with winter. It's held in January/February (the Hindu month of Magh) when Jupiter is in Taurius (or Aries) and the sun (and moon) are in Capricorn. Full Kumbh years: 2013, 2025… Half Kumbh years: 2019, 2031…
• Haridwar corresponds with spring. It's held in March/April (the Hindu month of Vaishakh, last held in 2021 from April 1 to 30) when Jupiter is in Aquarius and the Sun in Aries. Full Kumbh years: 2021, 2033… Half Kumbh years: 2016, 2028…
• Nashik corresponds with summer. It's held in July–September when Jupiter is in Leo (or Cancer with sun and moon conjunction). Full Kumbh years: 2015, 2027…
• Ujjain corresponds with spring. It's held in March/April (the Hindu month of Vaishakh) when Jupiter is in Leo (with Sun in Aries) or in Libra (with the Sun and Moon). Full Kumbh years: 2016, 2038…

Why Does Kumbh Mela Occur Every 12 Years?

Kumbh Mela occurs every 12 years to celebrate the completion of one revolution of the planet Jupiter, which is considered to be auspicious in Hinduism. Jupiter is a significant planet that's associated with wisdom and knowledge in Hindu astrology.

In Hinduism, it is considered to be an auspicious occasion when Jupiter completes one revolution. Therefore, Kumbh Mela is organized to celebrate at this time to allow devotees to receive the greatest spiritual power and blessings.

What Are the Rituals for Kumbh Mela?

sacred water , Kumbh Mela

The most important ritual for Kumbh Mela is to dip in holy water. This ritual is called Shahi Snan ('Royal Bath'). It is believed that taking a dip in a holy river during an auspicious time can wash away sins and bestow spiritual purification.

The Shahi Snan ritual is led by various sects of sadhus (Hindu holy men) who are often naked and adorned with ash or saffron-colored body paint. The most revered ascetics take the lead in sprinkling the waters of the Ganges on their own heads and shoulders, and then the ordinary pilgrims follow to commence the holy dip in the sacred water.

The event takes place at the four sacred rivers in India: the Ganges in Haridwar, the Godavari in Nashik, the Shipra in Ujjain, and at the Triveni Sangam confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Sarasvati rivers in Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad).

The Legend of Kumbh Mela

The origin of Kumbh Mela is associated with an ancient legend in Hinduism.

According to the legend, there was a battle between the gods and the demons for a pot (a kumbh) containing the nectar of immortality. While the demons pursued the gods, who carried the pot, for 12 days, equivalent to 12 years on Earth, some drops of the nectar fell from the pot at four different places.

These four places were Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad), Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik. Therefore, Kumbh Mela is held every 12 years at these four places. Additionally, a Half Kumbh Mela is held 6 years after each Full Kumbh at Prayagraj and Haridwar, and a Great Kumbh Mela is marked every 144 years at each place, lasting for about 6 weeks.

Prayagraj, where the confluence of three sacred rivers occurs, is considered to be the most auspicious location for a Kumbh Mela and is believed to be the place where the greatest divine blessings occur.

Dates for Kumbh Mela in 2025, and 2027

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