The Largest Gathering Of Humanity On Planet Earth

Kumbha Mela Allahabad

The Kumbha Mela occurs every 12 years in Allahabad, North India and is the largest pilgrimage festival known to man.

 According to ancient Hindu tradition, bathing here at the confluence of the 3 sacred rivers (Ganges, Yamuna, and the invisible Saraswati) will purify the body and the soul and leave one free from the continuous cycle of birth and death.

 It is a great roving festival that has moved around India for more than four thousand years, erecting temporary cities along the Ganges River where millions of Hindu faithful gather to wash away their sins in the holy waters.

 Although often considered primarily a Hindu pilgrimage, the Kumbha Mela is a celebration of spiritual and planetary consequence that potentially effects all Humankind.

 The Kumbh Mela is the "Festival of the Urn" that pours out the nectar of immortality.

 It was not just the final Kumbh Mela in a 12-year cycle of festivals. It was the final festival of 12 cycles - the conclusion of a giant 144-year cycle, making it "Maha" Kumbh Mela, the Great Festival.

 This 144-year buildup of spiritual meaning made it a powerfully auspicious time for pilgrims to bathe in the Ganges.

  Even the planets and stars joined in, providing heavenly alignments not seen for 144 years. East joined West with the coinciding advent of the 21st Century in 2001.  

People came from all over the globe to pray for peace and rebirth for self and the world, truly a meeting of ancient and future in a remarkable moment.

 This Maha Kumbha Mela drew an estimated 70 million people over 44 days, making this the largest single gathering of humanity in recorded history.

 Information About Allahabad, India

Altitude : 322 ft.

Climate (deg C) : Summer- Max 46.6, Min 27.2; Winter- Max 25.6, Min 10.5.

Clothings : Summer- Cottons/Tropical; Winter- Woollens.

Languages Spoken: Hindi, Urdu, English.

STD Code : 0532.

Air : The nearest airport Varanashi (135 kms) is connected by Indian Airlines flights with Agra, Bhubaneshwar, Bombay, Delhi, Khajuraho, Lucknow.

Rail: Allahabad is an important rail terminus connected by rail with all the major cities in India. Fare (approx): Calcutta-Allhabad Rs.1500 (AC-I), Rs.940 (AC-2A), Rs.750 (I), Rs.245 (II).

Road: Allahabad is connected by road with the major cities in India. Important road distances from Allahabad are:- Agra 483 kms, Delhi 612 kms, Lucknow 227 kms, Lumbini 406 kms, Khajuraho 294 kms, Varanashi 127 kms, Bombay 1,502 kms, Chitrakoot 128 kms.

Bus Service: Direct buses are available from Allahabad to Chitrakoot, Ayodhya, Varanashi, Lucknow and Kanpur.