Simple Guide to the Kumbh Mela in India

The Kumbh Mela is the biggest religious gathering in the world – in 2013 over 120 million people attended. And in 2019, I joined the other 30 million that took the religious pilgrimage.

I was invited by the India Tourist Board to come along and experience the Hindu celebration thanks to my festival expertise. As a non-practising person, and just as a fellow human in fact, it was absolutely fascinating. Every Hindu is expected to visit the Kumbh Mela at least once in their lifetime. It’s a significant pilgrimage for worshippers the world over.

It took me a while to get my head around what the Kumbh Mela actually is, and the names of all the different sector and processes. I wanted to put together this guide to the Kumbh Mela to help you in your trip planning, or even just to show you what went down for the three days I was at the Kumbh Mela.

– Few facts about the Kumbh Mela

– What to do at the Kumbh Mela

– Why do people go to the Kumbh Mela?

– Toilet situation at the Kumbh Mela