The observation of Kumbh Mela is based in the Vedic period perhaps thousands of years ago, when gods and demons made a short-term agreement to work together in attaining the nectar of immortality (amrita) from the Milky Ocean, and share it evenly. Nevertheless, when the Kumbha, which is the pot containing the nectar of immortality emerged, the demons ran away with the pot and were then pursued by the gods. So for twelve days and twelve nights (comparable to twelve human years) the gods and demons battled in the sky for the ownership of this pot of amrita. It is stated that during the time of the fight, drops of the nectar of immortality fell on to four places: Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik. Therefore, Kumbh Mela is commemorated at these four locations where the nectar fell.
Kumbh Mela is the most holy of all the pilgrimages. The most significant occurrence of the festival is ritual bathing at a predetermined time and place at the banks of the river in the particular location that it is being observed. Other activities consist of religious deliberations, devotional singing, and mass feeding of the poor, holy women and men as well as religious gatherings where policies are discussed and regulated.
Thousands of holy women and men are present and the festival and this sacred pilgrimage which is extremely favourable is definitely an attribute. The sadhus are seen dressed in saffron sheets with powder and ashes touch lightly on their skin for each prerequisite of the ancient rituals while some of them referred to as naga sanyasis, may not bear any clothing even in the winter.
Kumbh Mela is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage that occurs at the following four locations in India:
1. Prayag which is close to the city of Allahabad, in the state of Uttar Pradesh at the meeting of three rivers, Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati.
2. Haridwar which is in the state of Uttar Pradesh where the river Ganga enters the plains from Himalayas.
3. Ujjain which is in Madhya Pradesh on the banks of Ksipra River.
4. Nasik which is in Maharashtra on the banks of Godavari River.
This sacred pilgrimage takes place four times every twelve years and once at each of these four locations. Every twelve-year cycle is inclusive of the great Kumbh Mela festival at Prayag, which is attended by millions of persons on a single day, making it the most immense pilgrimage meeting worldwide.
It is said by astrologers that the Kumbh Mela festival takes place at a time when the planet of Jupiter enters Aquarius and the Sun enters Aries.