Kumbha Mela 2021 is happening this month and it started on January 14 and will continue till April. It is one of the largest Hindu festivals in India and sees thousands of visitors every year. Haridwar is home to the holy river Ganga, and together they create a stunning atmosphere.
The Kumbha Mela takes place every 12 years, however this year it is being hosted after the 11th year due to planetary positions. The festival has some important dates, the bath or snan dates. There will be nine main Ganga snans in total this year, starting with January 14, which is the day of Makar Sankranti.
There are four Shahi Snans, which are most important during this festival. The first one is on Mahashivratri, which falls on March 11; second on April 12, which is the day of Somvati Amavasya; Sankranti and Baisakhi on April 14, and finally on the day of the full moon, which is on April 27.
The railway station at Haridwar has been cleaned and painted for the Maha Kumbh Mela. The Indian Railways will run special trains such as Howrah-Dehradun-Howrah Super Fast Specia, Howrah-Yoganagari Rishikesh-Howrah, and Patna-Kota Special trains.
Kumbha Mela currently holds a place in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.
