According to the Puranas (old Vedic texts), during the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan), there was a conflict between Gods and devils over the Kumbh, a container of elixir (Amrit) that arose from the churning of the ocean. The gods were able to steal the pot and flee the fight. As a result, Asuras began pursuing them. God spilled drips of Amrit from the Kumbh (pot) to the 4 places or rivers where the Kumbh Mela is currently hosted during the pursuit. As a result, it is said that these 4 sites have supernatural properties. The pursuit lasted 12 days and nights. Because God's 12 days are equivalent to a living creature 12 years, the Kumbh Mela is held every 12 years.

The Kumbh Mela (or Kumbha Mela) is an important Hindu pilgrimage and festival. Allahabad (Prayagraj) (confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Sarasvati rivers), Haridwar (Ganges), Nashik (Godavari), and Ujjain (Shipra) are the four river-bank pilgrimage destinations. The event is known for its traditional dive into the waters, but it is also a celebration of community trade, with several fairs, education, religious addresses by saints, mass feedings of monks or the poor, and an entertainment show. The seekers believe that bathing in these waters is a type of prayascitta (atonement, penance) for previous offenses and that it cleanses them of their sins.

Significance of the Kumbh Mela

According to legend, the celestial nectar of immortality rained at the four spots associated with the Kumbh Mela (Nashik, Haridwar, Prayagraj, and Ujjain) while the Devas attempted to protect the elixir pot from the Asuras. Lord Dhanvantari appeared during Samudra Manthan, bearing a vessel with the elixir from the cosmic ocean bed (Kshirasagara). To churn the waves, the Devas and Asuras collaborated. The Asuras, however, refused to share it with the Devas, thus Lord Dhanvantari was kidnapped and the pot was stolen by a demon named Svarbhanu. Lord Vishnu had to intervene to regain the nectar in the end. As a result, to allure the Asuras, he took the form of Mohini.