Allahabad (Prayag) Kumbh Fair

The largest religious gathering in the world! According to astrologers, the 'Kumbh Fair' takes place when the planet Jupiter enters Aquarius and the Sun enters Aries. Kumbh (Kumbh means pot) Mela (means fair) is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage that takes place at the locations of India : Prayag, Allahabad (in the state of Uttar Pradesh) at the confluence of three holy rivers - Ganga (Ganges), Yamuna and Saraswati.

            Prayag or Allahabad is one of the holiest cities of India and an important city famous for its culture and contemporary heritage. It is situated at about 240 km from Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh. It has been called Prayag, in the sacred Vedic literatures. The city is especially sacred for the Hindus, as it is here that the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati meet, the confluence being known as the Sangam.

The History
Legends have it, that at the time of the ensuing tussle between the gods and demons to take possession of the pot full of Amrit, the elixir of life that emerged from the churning of the ocean splashed out of the pitcher and fell on four places on the earth. These places were Hardwar, Prayag (Allahabad), Ujjain and Nasik. It is on the banks of the holy Sangam, at Allahabad that the world's largest gathering of humanity comes together to take bath to get purified from sins.

The Spectacle
The Prayag (Allahabad) Kumbh Mela is the largest and holiest of all melas and is believed to be the most auspicious. On important bathing dates, lacks of pilgrims take bath on the banks of the holy Sangam. The Purna (complete) Kumbh or Maha Kumbh, the biggest and the most auspicious fair, which falls once every 12 years, is always held in Allahabad. Ardh Kumbh Mela is held every 6th year and the Magh Mela is the annual version of the Kumbh. The main bathing days are known as 'Shahi Snans' or 'Royal Bathing Days'.

The most recent Kumbh Mela was in 2001 & 2007 in Allahabad and millions of pilgrims took a holy dip in Sangam on the Mauni Amavasya. The main bathing days for the Kumbh Mela are : Makar Sankranti, Paush Purnima, Mauni Amavasya, Basant Panchmi, Maghi Poornima and Maha Shivratri.

Five Types of Kumbh Fair

• Maha Kumbh Mela - Occurring every 144 years - only in Allahabad.
• Purna Kumbh Mela - After every 12 years - last one took place in January 2001 in Allahabad.
• Ardh Kumbh Mela - 6th year after Kumbh Mela.
• Kumbh Mela - Every 3rd years, rotating through Prayag, Nasik, Haridwar and Ujjain.
• Magh Mela - Annual, held every year except years of Kumbh Mela and Ardh Kumbh Mela  Held in Magh (Jan-Feb); hence the name. Only in Allahabad.