- By Kashish Rai
- Tue, 17 Dec 2024 12:17 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Maha Kumbh Mela 2025: The Kumbh Mela is a significant Hindu festival celebrated every 12 years, rotating between four sacred sites in India. These sites are Haridwar on the Ganges, Ujjain on the Shipra, Nashik on the Godavari, and Prayagraj, where the Ganges, Yamuna and Sarasvati rivers meet. Each site's celebration is timed according to the specific astrological positions of the Sun, Moon, and Jupiter. The Maha Kumbh Mela, held only in Prayagraj, occurs every 144 years, following 12 complete Kumbh Melas. This extraordinary event attracts millions of devotees seeking spiritual enlightenment and purification.
Check out the start and end date, significance and history of this grand spiritual pilgrimage below:
Maha Kumbh Mela 2025: Start And End Date
- Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Start Date: 13th January 2025
- Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 End Date: 26th February 2025
Maha Kumbh Mela 2025: Significance
The Kumbh Mela is a sacred Hindu festival celebrated every 12 years, coinciding with Jupiter's revolution. It's primarily held at four riverside pilgrimage sites: Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik, and Ujjain. Recently, a fifth site has been added at Bansberia Tribeni Sangam in West Bengal.
The festival features a ritual dip in the sacred waters, believed to cleanse devotees of their sins and provide atonement for past mistakes. The Kumbh Mela is also a vibrant celebration of community, commerce, and culture, with fairs, educational events, and religious discourses.
The Kumbh Mela has a rich history, dating back to the 8th century. It's credited to the Hindu philosopher and saint Adi Shankara, who aimed to promote philosophical discussions and debates among Hindu monasteries across India.
Maha Kumbh Mela holds immense spiritual significance in Hinduism, offering salvation and purification to millions of devotees. (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Maha Kumbh Mela 2025: History
The Kumbh Mela gets its name from the Sanskrit words "Kumbh," meaning "immortal pot of nectar," and "Mela," meaning "gathering." According to ancient Vedic scriptures, the Devtas (gods) and demons fought over this pot of nectar, which led to its creation.
The legend says that the Devtas and demons worked together to produce the nectar, but the gods eventually seized the pot and entrusted its safety to four gods: Brahaspati, Surya, Shani, and Chandra. During the chase that followed, drops of the nectar fell at four places: Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik. These sites are now believed to possess mystical powers.
The Kumbh Mela is celebrated every 12 years at these four sacred sites. According to legend, the rivers turn into Amrit (nectar) during this period, attracting millions of pilgrims from around the world. They come to bathe in the sacred waters, seeking purity and immortality.
ALSO READ: Pausha Month 2024: Dates For Important Hindu Festivals And Vratas In Hindu Pausha Maas
(Disclaimer: This is based on general public information. Jagran English does not confirm its veracity. Before adopting any measures, consult an expert in the relevant field.)
