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, lakhs 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. Ardha 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 in Allahabad and millions of pilgrims took a holy dip in Sangam on the auspicious the Mauni Amavasya on the 24th January 2001. The main bathing days for the Kumbh Mela are: Makar Sankranti, Paush Purnima, Mauni Amavasya, Basant Panchmi, Maghi Poornima and Maha Shivratri.
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