Held four times every 12 years at four different locations across central and northern India, the Kumbh Mela is the largest religious congregation and largest peaceful gathering on the planet. This vast celebration attracts tens of millions of Hindu pilgrims, including mendicant nagas. According to the legend, the gods and demons vied for the pot that held the nectar of immortality. During the fight for possession which lasted 12 days, Vishnu was running with the pot when four drops of amrit fell to earth namely at places Nasik, Ujjain, Hardwar and Allahabad. The Kumbh Mela is celebrated at each of these places.

Spiritual significance can be understood in the following way:

1. Kumbh means an earthen pot. The human body is called ‘Parthiv’. The body is created from earth and merges into the earth; therefore, ‘Kumbh’ (the earthen pot) symbolises the human body.
2. This Kumbh is still immature and is filled with anger, lust, ego about our appearance, wealth, achievements and other desires etc.
3. As a consequence, when man moves in pursuit of desires he is likely to experience pleasure and/or pain. He experiences them in a never ending cycle.
4. Caught up in the recurring moments of pleasure and pain humans seek Moksha and achieve a state of eternal bliss and emptiness that transcends all of the joys, pain, and sorrow of the physical body.
5. It is believed that dip in the holy river nullifies sins of devotees and offers the chance to transcend, to reach beyond the endless suffering of material existence and reincarnation.
6. It promises to purify us in the spiritual sense, and merge or become connected with the Divine in all of us. Thus promotes spiritual growth, health, emotional strength and puts us on the path to moksha.
7. Transmission of knowledge: Since many Deities, individuals with Divine Knowledge, Saints and Sages congregate during the Kumbh Mela, the bene?t of their guidance can be obtained within a short time and at one place.
8. Performance of pitrutarpana is believed to ensure liberation to the departed ancestors.

Given its significance there should be equal focus to address concerns like:

1. Environment pollution: degradation in water quality.
2. Inadequate infrastructure to handle large pilgrimage.

Conclusion:

Apart from its central role in spirituality of the country, the event encapsulates the science of astronomy, astrology, ritualistic traditions, and social and cultural customs and practices, making it extremely rich in knowledge. Hence UNESCO has inscribed it on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.