Kumbh Mela History

Kumbh Mela is a religious event that is organized on a grand scale in India. Kumbh Mela has a lot of significance for people in India, as it gives them an opportunity to liberate themselves from the sufferings and wash away all their sins. Kumbh Mela is believed to have the largest congregation of ascetics, yogis, sadhus, sages and common men living on the planet Earth. People from all across the country assemble here to observe this famous Mela, but very few are aware about its origin & history.

There are many interesting legends about the origin and celebration of the Kumbha Mela. The story revolves around the fight between demons and Gods for the nectar of immortality. The origin of Kumbh Mela can be traced back to the Vedic period, when the deities and demons arrived at a consensus to work together in the task of churning "amrit", i.e. the nectar of immorality from the Ksheera Sagara (the primeval ocean of milk). It was decided that the nectar would be shared amongst all on an equal basis. To know the complete story, read further.

When the Kumbh or the pitcher full of amrit appeared, the demons played a mischief and they escaped the place with the nectar. The Gods also followed them and fought with demons in the sky for acquiring the pitcher of amrit. The battle went on for twelve consecutive days and nights, which was equivalent to 12 human years. It is said that during the war, a few drops of amrit fell on the earth at four distinctive spots, namely Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik. These are those four points or locations, where Kumbh Mela festival is celebrated four times in every 12 years.