Kumbh Mela festival explainer

Kumbh Mela is held four times in 12 years, alternating between cities of Prayagraj, Nasik, Ujjain and Haridwar.
Celebration at each site is based on astrological positions of sun, moon, and Jupiter

According to Hindu mythology, gods and demons fought over pitcher of elixir of immortality.
Four drops of elixir fell – one in each of four mela towns – during battle which lasted 12 divine days, equalling 12 human years

Devotees believe dip in sacred waters washes away sins and helps attain “moksha” – liberation from cycle of birth and death


2019 KUMBH MELA BY THE NUMBERS

120+ million Devotees

32 sq km Pilgrimage site

$650m Cost

300km Roads laid

20,000+ Beds

4,200+ Premium tents

122,000+ Toilets

20,000+ Dustbins

30,000+ Policemen

1,000+ CCTV cameras

15,000+ Sanitation workers


Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad) hosts 2019 festival at confluence of Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers

Mela towns

Haridwar
Ganges
Jamuna
Shipra
Ujjain
INDIA
Nashik
Godavari

400km 250 miles


Sources: Kumbh 2019, BBC 
Pictures: Getty Images 
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