One of the greatest spiritual gatherings of people from all faiths and religions from across the world, the Kumbh Mela Allahabad returns to the Triveni Sangam from January to March 2019, after 6 years. The Sangam is the auspicious spot which marks the confluence of three rivers: the Ganga, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati in Allahabad -now also known as Prayagraj now.

About Kumbh Mela

The spiritual event which welcomes over 150 million pilgrims is based on the astrological positions of the Sun, the Moon, and the Jupiter.

According to various Indian mythologies, it is believed that a sacred bath at the confluence of the rivers – Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati releases one from the sins of their birth and death cycle and brings them one step closer to Moksha. This gathering brings together the ascetics, saints, sadhus, aspirants-kalpavasis, pilgrims, and visitors. It is believed that the Kumbh Mela originates from back to when the Gods (Devtas) and Demons (Asura) resided on earth and were constantly at war, to get the Amrita or elixir of endless life. During a tug of war over the Amrita, four drops of holy nectar fell in four cities – Ujjain, Haridwar, Nasik, and Allahabad. Since then, the Kumbh returns to these four cities every three years by rotation.

The Maha Kumbh Mela is held at each of these four places every 12th year and at two places, Haridwar and Allahabad every 6th year. The rivers at these four places are the Ganges (Ganga) at Haridwar, the confluence (Sangam) of the Ganges and the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati at Allahabad, the Godavari at Nasik, and the Shipra at Ujjain.

Kumbh Mela Allahabad

The Kumbh Mela 2019 will return to Allahabad (Prayagraj) from January 14^th to March 4th, 2019. The event will feature Snan and Shahi Snan dates. The Shahi Snan is also known as the Royal Bath and the Rajyogi Snan when saints of different Akharas (a kind of religious groups) will gather to take a holy bath in the Sangam. Only after the Akharas have finished their dip that common men are allowed to take their holy bath.

It is believed that a holy dip in the sacred Sangam washes off their sins, thus ending the cycle of rebirth. The event also gives people the opportunity to meet and interact with monks, saints and yogis from various sects across India.

The previous Kumbh Mela, which was held in 2013 in Allahabad, marked the second and the biggest Shahi Snan or royal bath with 13 akharas taking to the Sangam while over 30 million devotes and ascetics took a holy dip, on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya (2^nd Shahi Snan).

Some of the key Snan/ bathing dates for this year’s event include:

14/15 January 2019    Makar Sankranti (1st Shahi Snan)

21 January 2019          Paush Purnima

31 January 2019          Paush Ekadashi

04 February 2019        Mauni Amavasya (Main Royal Bath / 2nd Shahi Snan)

10 February 2019        Basant Panchami (3rd Shahi Snan)

16 February 2019        Maghi Ekadashi

19 February 2019        Maghi Purnima

04 March 2019           Maha Shivratri

About Allahabad/ Prayagraj:

Allahabad is now known for its new name “Prayagraj”, is one of the oldest cities in India, heavily influenced by spiritualism and history. It is known in Hinduism as the site chosen by the creator of the universe, Lord Brahma, as the ‘king of all pilgrimage centers’. The city is at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna (two of India’s holiest rivers) and Saraswati River. The place where river Ganga and river Yamuna meet is called Sangam (union) and is the venue of many sacred fairs and rituals including the Kumbh Mela that attracts thousands of pilgrims throughout the year.

How to reach Allahabad/ Prayagraj:

Air: Allahabad Airport is located at Bamrauli, about 12 km away from the city center. Other airports closest to Allahabad are Varanasi, Lucknow, and Kanpur.
Rail: Allahabad has four major railway stations viz. Allahabad Junction, Prayag Station, City Station at Rambagh and Daraganj Station. The city of Allahabad is connected to several cities including Agra, Bareilly, Kolkata, Delhi, Aligarh, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Pune, Kanpur, Lucknow, Jaipur etc.
Road: There are buses, operated by Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC), that connects the city to all the major north Indian cities including Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi, Meerut, Jhansi etc.

Places to see in Allahabad:

There are several tourist spots in and around the city. Some of the most prominent ones are:

• Hanuman Mandir
  Located near the Allahabad Fort is the magnificent Hanuman Mandir, a unique temple in the city where visiting tourists can witness a huge idol of Hanuman, which is 20 feet long and 8 feet wide. The temple is known to get completely submerged when the river Ganga is in full flow.
• Anand Bhavan
  In the heart of the city, you’ll find Anand Bhavan, the ancestral home of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru as well as the eventual home of Indira Gandhi – the ‘Iron Lady of India’ and was the first female Prime Minister of India. At present, Anand Bhavan has been turned into a museum showcasing the Nehru family.
• Khusro Bagh
  The beautiful Khusro Bagh holds immense historical significance, as it houses the tomb of Prince Khusro, one of the sons of Emperor Jahangir. The walled garden is a home to three mausoleums built in Mughal architectural style: the tomb of the murdered prince and the tombs of Khusro’s mother and sister. The tombs which highlight the Mughal era are decorated with fine stone carvings and motifs.
• Allahabad Fort
  This ancient fort was originally built by the great emperor Ashoka and then repaired by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1583. Today, the fort is controlled by the Indian Army, with part of it open to public. This fort has three magnificent galleries which are flanked by high towers. An architectural delight, the fort’s Ashoka Pillar was built back in 232 B.C under the Mauryan Empire.
• Alfred Park / Chandra Shekhar Azad Park
  Alfred Park is the largest park in Allahabad. A key center for various ceremonies during the British rule, Alfred Park gained immense importance after the encounter between the British police and Indian revolutionaries Chandra Shekhar Azad, who took his life here while trying to avoid being caught.

At AyurUniverse, we want the world to experience this miraculous spiritual experience by offering an easy and reliable platform to book packages that promise to take visitors on a once-in-a-lifetime spiritual journey. We offer a choice of packages offered by the Government-approved hotel and tented vendors, all located in the vicinity of the festival.
Our all-inclusive packages offer airport pick-ups, accommodation, and meals. We will also have a local representation on the ground to ensure a safe and enriching experience for you.

Come and witness this amazing festival of faith!