History of Kumbh Mela in Timeline
Kumbh Mela is a major Hindu pilgrimage celebrated every 4 or 12 years, linked to Jupiter's orbit. Recognized as the world's largest peaceful gathering, it attracts millions of devotees. The event holds immense spiritual significance in Hinduism.
2 hours ago : Kumbh Mela: A massive Hindu pilgrimage and festival in India
Kumbh Mela is a major pilgrimage and festival in Hinduism. It is held in a cycle of approximately 12 years at four river-bank pilgrimage sites: Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik and Ujjain. It is one of the largest peaceful gatherings in the world.
1906: Sanatan Dharm Sabha Met at Prayag Kumbh Mela
In 1906, the Sanatan Dharm Sabha met at the Prayag Kumbh Mela and resolved to start the Banaras Hindu University in Madan Mohan Malaviya's leadership.
1908: Decline in Pilgrimage Numbers
Around 1908, during a period of major famines, cholera, and plague epidemics in British India, the number of pilgrims attending the Kumbh Mela dropped to between 300,000 and 400,000.
1938: Pilgrim tax abolished
In 1938, Lord Auckland abolished the pilgrim tax, leading to an increase in the number of pilgrims attending the Kumbh Mela.
1942: Kumbh Mela Banned During World War II
During World War II, in 1942 the colonial government banned the Kumbh Mela to conserve scarce supplies of fuel, leading to sharply lower attendance.
1947: State governments take over Kumbh Mela infrastructure
After 1947, state governments took over the role of providing infrastructure for the Kumbh Mela in their respective states, assuming responsibilities previously held by the East India Company and later the British government.
1947: Kumbh Mela and the Independence Movement
Through 1947, the Kumbh Mela continued to play an important role in the independence movement, serving as a place where native people and politicians periodically gathered in large numbers.
1954: Increased Attendance After Independence
In 1954, after India's independence, the attendance at the Kumbh Mela rose sharply; on amavasya, over 5 million people attended.
1954: Kumbh Mela Stampede
In 1954, over 500 people died in a major crowd crush at the Kumbh Mela stampede, although the real figure varies according to different sources.
1954: Maha Kumbh Mela Recognition
The Kumbh Mela in 1954 was identified as a Maha Kumbh Mela due to astrological attributes that would not be repeated for another 144 years.
1964: Vishva Hindu Parishad Founded at Haridwar Kumbh Mela
In 1964, the Vishva Hindu Parishad was founded at the Haridwar Kumbh Mela, marking a significant development in the Hindutva movement and politics.
1977: Large Attendance at Kumbh Mela
In 1977, approximately 10 million people attended the Kumbh Mela, reflecting the continued growth in popularity after India's independence.
1982: "Amrita Kumbher Sandhane" Film Documentation
In 1982, "Amrita Kumbher Sandhane", a Bengali feature film directed by Dilip Roy, documented the Kumbh Mela, reflecting its cultural significance and impact on regional cinema.
1986: Stampede Kills Pilgrims
In 1986, 50 people were killed in a stampede at the Kumbh Mela, highlighting ongoing challenges in managing the large crowds.
1989: Kumbh Mela Draws Millions
In 1989, the Kumbh Mela attracted about 15 million attendees, showcasing its significant cultural and religious importance.
1989: Maha Kumbh Mela Recognition
The Kumbh Mela in 1989 was identified as a Maha Kumbh Mela due to astrological attributes that would not be repeated for another 144 years.
April 1998: Massive Attendance at Haridwar Kumbh Mela
On April 14, 1998, the Kumbh Mela at Haridwar saw a massive attendance of 10 million pilgrims on the busiest single day.
1998: Release of "Kings with Straw Mats" documentary
In 1998, Ira Cohen directed the documentary "Kings with Straw Mats" focusing on the Kumbh Mela.
2001: Release of "Kumbh Mela: The Greatest Show on Earth" documentary
In 2001, Graham Day directed the documentary "Kumbh Mela: The Greatest Show on Earth", highlighting the grandeur of the event.
2001: Record-Breaking Attendance at Kumbh Mela
In 2001, the Kumbh Mela was estimated to have drawn 70 million people over the festival, with over 40 million on the busiest single day.
2001: Maha Kumbh Mela Recognition
The Kumbh Mela in 2001 was identified as a Maha Kumbh Mela due to astrological attributes that would not be repeated for another 144 years.
2004: Release of Documentaries
In 2004, two documentaries about the Kumbh Mela were released: "Short Cut to Nirvana: Kumbh Mela", directed by Nick Day and produced by Maurizio Benazzo, and "Kumbh Mela: Songs of the River" by Nadeem Uddin.
2007: National Geographic Films "Inside Nirvana"
In 2007, National Geographic filmed and broadcast a documentary of the Prayag Kumbh Mela, named "Inside Nirvana", directed by Karina Holden with Kama Maclean as a consultant.
2007: Large Attendance at Ardha Kumbh Mela
In 2007, as many as 70 million pilgrims attended the 45-day-long Ardha Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj, demonstrating its significant religious and cultural importance.
2008: Release of "Invocation, Kumbh Mela" documentary
In 2008, "Invocation, Kumbh Mela", a documentary was released capturing the spiritual essence of the festival.
September 2010: Kumbh Mela featured on "An Idiot Abroad"
On September 30, 2010, the Kumbh Mela featured in the second episode of the Sky One TV series "An Idiot Abroad", with Karl Pilkington visiting the festival.
2011: Release of "Kumbh Mela: Walking with the Nagas" documentary
In 2011, "Kumbh Mela: Walking with the Nagas" was released.
2012: Release of "Amrit: Nectar of Immortality" documentary
In 2012, Jonas Scheu and Philipp Eyer directed and released the documentary "Amrit: Nectar of Immortality".
February 2013: Largest One-Day Attendance at Kumbh Mela
On February 10, 2013, the Kumbh Mela saw its largest one-day attendance with 30 million people.
2013: Massive Pilgrimage at Prayagraj Kumbh Mela
In 2013, 120 million pilgrims attended the Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj, marking it as one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.
2013: Shooting of "Kalkimanthakatha" at Prayag Kumbh Mela
In 2013, Ashish Avikunthak shot his Bengali-language feature-length fiction film "Kalkimanthakatha" in the Prayag Kumbh Mela.
2013: National Geographic Films "Inside the Mahakumbh"
In 2013, National Geographic returned and filmed the documentary "Inside the Mahakumbh", showcasing the scale and significance of the event.
2013: Infrastructure and Services at Kumbh Mela
In 2013, the Indian government authorities, in cooperation with various organizations, provided extensive infrastructure and services at the Kumbh Mela, including first aid, sanitation, food and water distribution, and cooking fuel.
2013: Release of "Kumbh Mela 2013: Living with Mahatiagi" documentary
In 2013, the Ukrainian Religious Studies Project Ahamot released "Kumbh Mela 2013: Living with Mahatiagi", documenting life during the festival.
2015: "Kalkimanthakatha" Film Release
In 2015, Ashish Avikunthak's Bengali-language feature-length fiction film "Kalkimanthakatha" was released, shot in the Prayag Kumbh Mela in 2013, following characters searching for Kalki, the final avatar of Lord Vishnu.
February 2019: Large Gathering at Kumbh Mela
On February 4, 2019, the Kumbh Mela witnessed a massive gathering of 50 million people, marking one of the festival's most crowded days.
2019: Preparations for the Ardh Kumbh at Prayagraj
For the 2019 Ardh Kumbh at Prayagraj, preparations included constructing a temporary city over 2,500 hectares with extensive facilities, special trains, AI video surveillance by IBM, and an app to assist visitors.
2019: Reclassification of Kumbh Melas
In 2019, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced that the Ardh Kumbh Mela will be known as "Kumbh Mela", and the Kumbh Mela will be known as "Maha Kumbh Mela".
2021: Haridwar Kumbh Mela as a COVID-19 Super Spreader
In 2021, the Kumbh Mela held in Haridwar was considered a COVID-19 super spreader, leading to increased cases in Uttarakhand and India due to numerous health guideline violations.
2022: Claimed Reorganization of Bansberia Kumbh Mela
In 2022, it was claimed that the Bansberia Kumbh Mela (Hooghly) was organized after a 700-year break, highlighting attempts to boost the status of local festivals by adapting Kumbh legends.
2023: Value of 2019 Ardh Kumbh preparations
In 2023, it was noted that preparations for the 2019 Ardh Kumbh at Prayagraj included the construction of a ₹42,000 million temporary city (equivalent to US$620 million).
January 2025: Stampede at Maha Kumbh Venue
In January 2025, at least 50 people died and 100 others were injured in a stampede at the Maha Kumbh venue in Prayagraj, leading to the temporary suspension of Amrit Snan.
2025: Railway Crisis During Kumbh Mela
In 2025, during the Kumbh Mela, over 13000 trains were allocated, but the surge in devotees caused a full-blown crisis across railway stations, especially in Bihar, with passengers vandalizing six air-conditioned coaches of the Jayanagar-New Delhi Swatantrata Senani Express at Madhubani and Samastipur stations.
2025: Maha Kumbh Mela Recognition
The Kumbh Mela in 2025 was identified as a Maha Kumbh Mela due to astrological attributes that would not be repeated for another 144 years.
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