Kumbh Mela is the world’s largest hindu pilgrimage which is organized once in three years in Allahabad, Nashik, Haridwar and Ujjain respectively turn by turn. Hindus from all over the world gather at the Sangam, where the holy waters of the Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati meet and take the holy bath to wash their sins away. They come here to attain salvation from the never ending cycle of life and death. The Kumbh Mela is considered one of the most massive acts of faith.

1. The folklore behind Kumbh Mela is that it is held every 12 years as it represents the 12 days and 12 nights of the battle between the Deities and Demons. One day and one night in heaven are measured equal to one human year.
2. The world largest congregation, the Kumbh Mela has often drawn record masses of 50-60 million believers. This is a proof of the great spirit of oneness of Hinduism as a way of living.
3. In the year 2013 The Maha Kumbh Mela which occurs in 144 years, recorded an estimated footfall of 100 million devotees. The festival was noted as the “biggest gathering on Earth”. The Guinness Book of World Records recognised the event as one of “The Best Managed” events of all times with 14 temporary hospitals, 243 doctors on call, around 30,000 police forces and security staff on duty and 40,000 lavatories and urinals.
4. The festival is over 2,000 years old. The first documented description of the Kumbh Mela was recorded by a Chinese traveler Huan Tsang who visited India in 629 -645 CE.
5. Amrita Kumbher Sandhane, was the first Bengali feature film directed by Dilip Roy that documented the Kumbh Mela. It released in 1982.
6. An estimated amount of business earnings in Kumbh Mela is 12,000 crore rupees (120 billion rupees). Employment opportunities created during Kumbh Mela is approximately 6,50,00
7. It’s a custom to represent the various prestigious akharas and assembling for the great bath on Kumbh days. An akhara is a wrestling field. It is an association of the different groups of saints, vairagis, and yogis who have attained abstinence from the wordly pleasures. Shaiva Akharas are for devotees of Lord Shiva, Vairagi Akhara of Lord Vishnu and Kalpwasis of Lord Brahma. The central administrative body of the Akhara is Shree Panch who represent Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva. Shakti and Ganesha. The five-member body leading an akhara is chosen during every Kumbh Mela.
8. The major event of the festival is ritual bathing at the banks of the river. Ganga in Haridwar, Godavari in Nashik, Kshipra in Ujjain and Sangam (convergence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical river Saraswati) in Prayag, Allahabad.
9. Indian Space Research Organisation took aerial shots of the conglomeration with the hope of improving the management of the festival in the coming years.
10. The Naga Sadhus participate in this festival and they are stark-naked.
    
11. The next Kumbh Mela is to be held in 2016, this time in Ujjain on the banks of River Kshipra.