Festivals in India

It is a Hindu pilgrimage that occurs four times every twelve years and revolves among four locations Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik. In twelve-year cycle one Maha Kumbh Mela at Allahabad is performed, which is attended by up to 60 million people, making it the largest get-together in the world.

The ceremony of Kumbh Mela is based upon the legend which says that thousands of years ago, in the Vedic period, gods and demons had made a temporary contract to work together to mix Amrit which was the nectar of immortality from the Ksheera Sagara which is known as the prehistoric ocean of milk, and would share the nectar uniformly. However, when the Kumbh containing the Amrit appeared, the demons ran away with it and Gods chased them. For twelve days and twelve nights which is said to be is equal to twelve human years the gods and demons fought in the sky for ownership of the pot. It is said that during the battle, drops of Amrit fell at four places: Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik therefore the Kumbh Mela is observed at these four locations where the nectar fell.

People take a ritual bath at the banks of the rivers in each town, religious discussions, devotional singing, mass supply of food to holy men and women and the poor and religious get-together where policy are debated and standardized.

Kumbh Mela is the most sacred of all the pilgrimages. The sadhus are seen dressed in saffron clothes with plenty of chandan deployed in the body.