Kumbh Mela 2025 Prayagraj Uttar Pradesh – True Meaning – Information and Importance of Kumbha Mela 2025 Dates

The Kumbh Mela 2025 at Prayagraj in India (also known as Prayag, Sangam and Teerthraj) begins on January 13, 2025 and culminates on February 26, 2025. Detail information regarding Kumbh Mela 2025 Prayagraj Uttar Pradesh can be read below. 

What is Kumbh Mela?

Kumbh Mela is an important sacred holy pilgrimage in Hindu religion that takes in four important locations in India. The pilgrimage takes place once in twelve years in Prayagraj, Nasik, Ujjain and Haridwar. Ardh Kumbh Mela or Half-Kumbh Mela takes place in these four locations during the sixth year of the twelve-year cycle.

The most important bathing ritual dates during Kumbh Mela 2025:

• Monday, 13 January 2025 – Paush Purnima
• Tuesday, 14 January 2025 – Makar Sankranti (1st Shahi Snan)
• Wednesday, 29 January 2025 – Mauni Amavasya (2nd Shahi Snan)
• Monday, 3 February 2025 – Basant Panchami (3rd Shahi Snan)
• Wednesday, 12 February 2025 – Maghi Purnima
• Wednesday, 26 February 2025 – Mahashivratri

The three Shahi Snans by the 13 Akharas including Naga Sadhus from various parts of India will take place on January 14 (Makar Sankranti), January 29 (Mauni Amavasya) and February 3 (Basant Panchami).

Importance of Kumbh Mela in Hinduism

• The Ganga (Ganges), Yamuna, and the mythical river Saraswati meets at Prayag or Prayagraj. It is this confluence of the holy rivers that has made Prayag one of the holiest spots in Hinduism.
• Rig Veda states that bathing at this ‘Sangam’ or at the confluence of these rivers gives immortality to humans.
• The Brahma Purana, Vishnu Purana, Varaha Purana, Matsya Purana talks about the importance of ‘Prayaga’ or ‘Sangam.’
• Bathing’ – during the Kumbh Mela at the ‘Sangam’- washes away the sins of generations.
• The ‘Bathing Ritual’ at the Sangam is equal to 1,000 Ashwamedha Yagnas (horse sacrifices.)
• Lord Ram, Sita, Lakshmana visited the Sangam during their exile.
• Pandavas also visited the Sangam.
• It is expected that more than a billion people will participate in the Kumbh Mela of 2025 at Sangam, Prayagraj.

Why is Kumbh Mela performed?

As per Hinduism, a living being goes through numerous cycles of birth and death before attaining liberation or moksha. Liberation in Hinduism is merging with the Supreme Truth (Brahman). In simple terms – it is attaining Vaikunta (the abode of Vishnu) or Shivaloka (the abode of Shiva).

By taking holy dip during the 12-year Kumbh Mela, a person will attain moksha. This is a strong belief among a majority of Hindus.

Moksha can be attained only by washing away sins of several births. The Kumbh Mela is an opportunity to wash away the sins.

Story of Kumbh Mela in Hindu Scriptures

The story of Kumbh Mela held in Prayag (Prayagraj) is associated with the Samudra Manthan or churning of the ocean mentioned in scriptures like Bhagavad Purana, Vishnu Purana, the Mahabharata, the Ramayana and numerous other Hindu scriptures.

Legend has it that churning of ocean by Devas (demigods) and Danavas (Demons) yielded a jar (Kumbh) full of Amrit (nectar). Devas did not wish to share it with demons.

At the instance of Lord Indra, the King of Devas, his son Jayanta tried to run away with the jar but he was followed by some of the demons.

During the struggle for its possession, a few drops of the nectar dropped at four places corresponding with Haridwar, Prayag, Ujjain and Nasik on the earth. The drops of nectar fell in the rivers here.

Kumbh is held at each of the four places namely Haridwar, Prayagraj, Nasik and Ujjain once every 12 years.

Millions of devotees come to take a bath in the holy Rivers to wash off their sins. The devotees believe this to be an opportunity to get ‘moksha’ (salvation) and put an end to the never-ending cycle of birth-death-birth.

True Meaning of Kumbh Mela

Kumbh Mela extols that Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) is the collective name given to the attempts made by individuals to reach truth. Hindu Religion acknowledges each and every individual's effort to understand the supreme truth. It believes that all path leads to the Supreme Truth. That is the reason why Hinduism is the most tolerant religion in the world. That is why India is home to all the religions in the world.

The naked Sadhu, the smoking sadhu, the sadhu who never talks, the gurus, the philosopher, the scholar, the priest, the tantrics, the babas, the yoginis, the atheist, the beggars, the monks, the common man who offers prayer at home and in temples all arrive at the Kumbh Mela. They are all welcomed. They are all offered food and water. They are listened to. They are appreciated. The points they raise are debated. They depart without any ill will.  They promise to meet again. They promise to continue their search.

At Sangam, three great rivers arrive from three different directions. The three rivers have their own uniqueness. But at Sangam they become ONE. Their identities merge. The people arrive in millions to celebrate this merging.