Kumbh Mela or Kumbh fair, is the Hindu religious faith and mass gathering of devotees to bathe in a sacred river at the place of pilgrimage. It takes place once in every 12 years when according to Hindu astrology Jupiter is in Leo (Simha, in Sanskrit) and the sacred bathe happens on full moon day of the Vaishakh month of Hindu calender (April-May).



Kumbh mela held at the four places where, according to Hindu mythology, Lord Vishnu dropped drops of Amrit from his Kumbha and hence got the name Kumbh Mela to the festival. The four places are Haridwar, Allahabad (Prayaga), Nashik-Trimbakeshwar and Ujjain. Traditionally these fairs held at the banks of the rivers. In the case of Haridwar, it’s held at Ganges-Yamuna confluence (sangam), in Allahabad, on the banks of now extinct Saraswati river, at Godawari in Nashik-Trimbakeshwar and Shipra in Ujjain. When the Jupiter is in Leo it’s called as Simhasth Kumbha.

This year’s Simhasth at Ujjain started at April 21 and will last long till May 21.

The second Shahi Snan of the Simhasth is on today and all the 13 akharas participating in the mela will have a sacred bathe at the Shipra river here in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.



The devotees from across the country have gathered at Ujjain to get the opportunity to bath at the sacred river as the Simhastha Kumbha with the auspicious occasion of Akshay Tritiya makes the whole event even more divine.



Ujjain is the ancient city and abode of Lord Mahakaleshwar. Around 25 lakh devotees have gathered at the place, according to the government.

Shahi Snaan began after the pontiff of Juna Akhara Hari Giri offered the Puja at Ramghat.



The eunuchs had announced to take bath in the river today but they have postponed it to May 12 now.

Large security arrangements have taken place in the city and huge amount of state and central security personnel have been deployed to manage the large sea of devotees.



IGP, Inspector, General of Police, Ujjain range, Madhu Kumar said, “At the time of second Shahi Snan (royal dip) in Shipra river, over 25,000 security personnel are keeping a watch at the Mela venue.”

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