Kumbh Mela

Kumbh Mela is a faith of Hindu pilgrimage in which Hindus gather to bathe in a sacred river. It is considered to be the largest peaceful gathering in the world. It is held every third year at one of the four places by rotation Haridwar, Allahabad, Nashik and Ujjain. Kumbha means a pitcher and Mela means fair in Sanskrit.

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 Godawari at Nashik, and the Shipra at Ujjain. Pepole think that bathing in these rivers is to cleanse one of all sins. Darshan or respectful visual exchange, is an important part of the Kumbh Mela. Two major groups that participate in the Kumbh Mela include the Sadhus and pilgrims.