Kumbh Mela (the festival of the sacred Pitcher) is the largest peaceful congregation of pilgrims on earth, during which participants bathe in a sacred river. Kumbh devotees believe they are freed from sins and are liberated from birth and death by bathing in the Ganges.
The Kumbh Mela may have originated with the Hindu philosopher Shankara, who held regular meetings for the purpose of discussion and debate among a group of learned ascetics during the 8th century. According to legend, the Kumbha Mela was founded by the myth that the gods and demons fought over a pot, the "Kumbh" of nectar, produced by their joint churning of the milky ocean.
In a later day extension of the legend, the pot spilled at four places, and this is the origin of the four Kumbha Melas. The rivers where the pot is spilled turn back into the primordial nectar at the climax of each ceremony. As a result, pilgrims can bathe in the purity, auspiciousness, and immortality of the water.
The festival is held in Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nasik every four years. The dates over which the festival is observed occur at each site approximately once every 12 years based on the Hindu lunisolar calendar and the astrological positions of Jupiter, the sun, and the moon. The festival itself is marked not only by a ritual dip in the rivers, but also a celebration of community commerce with numerous fairs, educational events, religious discourses by saints, and masses of food provided to the poor or monks.
People believe that bathing in these rivers cleans them of their sins and penance for past mistakes. Many people reach the place without invitation, irrespective of caste, creed, and gender. Participants include sadhus (holy men), who remain naked year-round or practice the most rigorous physical discipline, hermits, who leave their isolation only to attend pilgrimages, and even silk-clad teachers using the latest technology. The primary bearers of this teaching are religious groups like the akhadas and the ashrams, as well as individuals living on alms.
Kumba Mela plays a prominent role in Indian culture and is extremely important, as it encompasses astronomy, astrology, spirituality, ritualistic traditions, and social and cultural customs and practices. Since it takes place in four different cities in India, it involves a wide variety of activities and influences, making it a culturally diverse festival.
Traditional knowledge and skills related to Kumbh Mela are transmitted via ancient religious manuscripts, oral traditions, historical travelogues, and texts by eminent historians. However, the most significant method of passing on knowledge and skills related to Kumbh Mela is through the teacher-student relationship of sadhus residing in the ashrams and the akhadas.