The greatest of the religious events, the Kumbha Melā, is a riverside festival held every twelve years, rotating among Prayāgraj (formerly Allahabad), Nasik, Ujjain, and Haridvar. Two traditions determine the origin/location and timing of the festival. The Kumbha Melā is an extended and expanded form of the ancient Māgha Melā, as described in the Atharva Veda, dated ca. 1500 BCE. The Mahā (Great) Kumbha Melā is the largest gathering of humanity on planet Earth. The latest one, held in Prayāgraj (Allahabad) in 2025, set the world record for the largest human gathering, with 663 million bathers and visitors. The Kumbha Melā achieved a significant milestone by being inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2017. This recognition is a testament to the Kumbha Melā's profound cultural and spiritual significance, as well as its unparalleled character as a massive and peaceful gathering of devotees.
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