Jupiter · Sun · Moon — the calendar the sky writes
The sky sets the date.
We just keep watch.
Every Kumbh Mela date on this page is fixed the same way it has been for centuries — by where Jupiter, the Sun and the Moon stand in the sky. No two Kumbhs share a date twice. Here is exactly when the next one falls, and why.
until Dhwajarohan — the flag-hoisting that opens Nashik–Trimbakeshwar Kumbh 2026–27
Jupiter currently transiting Leo — the alignment behind the Nashik Simhastha
Right now
Key dates at a glance
Dhwajarohan — official commencement
The flag-hoisting that formally opens the Nashik–Trimbakeshwar Kumbh.
First Amrit Snan
Ashadh Somvati Amavasya — the first of four principal bathing days.
Second Amrit Snan
Shravan Amavasya.
Third Amrit Snan
Vaishnava and Shaiva orders bathe on consecutive days at Kushavarta Tirtha.
Flag Lowering — official conclusion
The closing ceremony that ends this cycle's ritual calendar.
For anyone new here
What Kumbh Mela actually is
Kumbh Mela is the world's largest periodic gathering of people for a single purpose — a mass pilgrimage where millions bathe at a sacred river confluence on precisely calculated dates, believed to wash away sin and break the cycle of rebirth.
The Samudra Manthan origin
Hindu scripture holds that when gods and demons churned the cosmic ocean for Amrit — the nectar of immortality — drops of it fell at four earthly points: Haridwar, Prayagraj, Nashik and Ujjain. Those four sites are the only places a Kumbh Mela is ever held.
Not one festival — four, on rotation
Each of the four cities hosts its own Purna Kumbh once every 12 years, timed to Jupiter's slow orbit through the zodiac, so the full rotation between all four takes roughly a dozen years to complete.
A living tradition, not a reenactment
The same Akhadas (monastic orders), the same bathing sequence, and largely the same rituals have continued at these sites for centuries — this isn't a modern revival, it's a calendar that has simply kept running.
In short
Four rivers. One nectar. Twelve years each.
Haridwar — Ganga, where the river leaves the Himalayan foothills for the plains.
Prayagraj — the Triveni Sangam, where the Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati meet.
Nashik–Trimbakeshwar — the Godavari, at the point it's said to resurface near Brahmagiri hill.
Ujjain — the Shipra, on the Malwa plateau of Madhya Pradesh.
Scale
Kumbh Mela by the numbers
400M+
Estimated total attendance across the 2025 Prayagraj Maha Kumbh — the largest single human gathering ever recorded.
2017
The year UNESCO inscribed Kumbh Mela on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
13
Akhadas — the organised monastic orders that process into the water in a fixed ceremonial sequence at every Kumbh.
~12 yrs
How long Jupiter takes to complete one loop through the zodiac — and why each city hosts a Purna Kumbh only once a cycle.
The 12-year rotation
One Mela, four rivers, one long cycle
Kumbh Mela doesn't repeat in one city — it moves in a fixed sequence between four sacred rivers, roughly every three years, so that a full rotation takes about twelve. This is the actual order it follows next.
The four host cities
Get to know each site before you pick one
Same festival, four completely different places to actually stand in. Each has its own history, geography and travel logistics — worth reading before you commit to a trip.
Haridwar
Gateway of God — Har Ki Pauri's Brahma Kund, where the Ganga first meets the plains after the Himalayas. Next Ardh Kumbh: 2027.
Nashik–Trimbakeshwar
Twin venues on the Godavari, 28–30 km apart, sharing one calendar. Currently mid-cycle for the 2026–27 Simhastha.
Prayagraj
Home of the Triveni Sangam and the record-breaking 2025 Maha Kumbh. Next Purna Kumbh: 2030.
Ujjain
One of India's seven Sapta Puri sacred cities, on the Shipra. Next Purna Kumbh (Simhastha): 2028.
Nashik–Trimbakeshwar · 2027
The Amrit Snan days that matter most
Of the hundreds of days across a Kumbh, only a handful are Amrit Snan — the bathing days believed to carry the festival's full spiritual weight. These four are the ones to build a trip around.
| Date | Day | Snan | Occasion |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Aug 2027 | Monday | First | Ashadh Somvati Amavasya |
| 31 Aug 2027 | Tuesday | Second | Shravan Amavasya |
| 11 Sep 2027 | Saturday | Third · Vaishnava | Bhadrapada Shukla Ekadashi |
| 12 Sep 2027 | Sunday | Third · Shaiva | Kushavarta Tirtha, Trimbakeshwar |
The astronomy, plainly
Why these dates and not others
Jupiter picks the city
Which of the four cities hosts the Kumbh depends on which zodiac sign Jupiter is passing through — Leo points to Nashik, Aquarius to Prayagraj, and so on. This is the "Simhastha" in Nashik's name: Simha means Leo.
The Sun and Moon pick the day
Within that window, the holiest bathing days fall on specific lunar dates — new moon, full moon, and certain solar transitions — calculated the same way Hindu festival calendars have been for over a thousand years.
No date repeats twice
Because it takes roughly twelve years for Jupiter to complete one loop through the zodiac, the same city only hosts a Purna Kumbh once every twelve years — which is why this calendar runs all the way to 2050.
At a glance
Kumbh types, explained in one line each
Purna Kumbh — the full event, once every 12 years, at one of the four rivers.
Ardh Kumbh — the "half" Kumbh, held at Haridwar or Prayagraj roughly midway through the 12-year cycle.
Magh Mela — the smaller annual gathering at Prayagraj in the years without a Kumbh.
The Navagraha — nine celestial influences of Hindu astrology. Brihaspati (Jupiter), highlighted, is the one that decides which city hosts each Kumbh.
The wider system
The nine Grahas behind every Hindu auspicious date
Kumbh Mela dates come from just three of these nine — but understanding the full set explains why Hindu astrology treats timing with this much precision in the first place.
- Surya (Sun)
- Soul and vitality; governs the solar transitions (Sankranti) used to mark several Snan dates.
- Chandra (Moon)
- Mind and emotion; its phases fix the Amavasya and Purnima dates central to the Snan calendar.
- Brihaspati (Jupiter)
- The Guru graha — wisdom and expansion. Its ~12-year zodiac transit sets which city hosts each Kumbh.
- Mangala (Mars)
- Energy and courage; consulted for the timing of physically demanding undertakings and travel.
- Budha (Mercury)
- Intellect and communication; favoured for beginning study, trade, and formal agreements.
- Shukra (Venus)
- Beauty and relationships; traditionally consulted for marriage and creative undertakings.
- Shani (Saturn)
- Discipline and karma; its slow transit governs long, testing life periods such as Sade Sati.
- Rahu & Ketu
- The lunar nodes — shadow points, not physical bodies — associated with eclipses and karmic turning points.
Common questions
Before you plan around a date
Aim for two to three months ahead of any Amrit Snan date. Accommodation near the main ghats fills first, and prices rise sharply in the final month.
The city and broad window are fixed years in advance. Exact Amrit Snan days are confirmed closer to the event by the respective Akhada Parishad and state administration, and we update this page as soon as they are.
Yes — it's a Purna (full) Kumbh, also called the Simhastha because it coincides with Jupiter's transit through Leo (Simha).
Our sister site, Kumbh Mela Directory, lists verified tents, cottages and ashram stays across all four host cities as they become available.
Amrit Snan (also called Shahi Snan) is one of a small number of designated royal bathing days led by the Akhadas in ceremonial order. Every other day of the Mela sees ordinary daily bathing, without that ceremonial precedence.
Yes, significantly — expect the heaviest congestion in the 24–48 hours around each Amrit Snan. Special festival train timetables and traffic diversions are usually announced closer to the date; check Official Websites before you travel.
Many families do, but the crowd density on peak Amrit Snan days is severe. If travelling with children or elderly relatives, consider bathing on an adjacent, less crowded day within the same sacred window, and always follow on-ground authority instructions.
Getting ready
How to plan a Kumbh Mela visit, step by step
Whether it's your first Kumbh or your fifth, the same five decisions cover most of the planning.
1. Pick your date & city
Decide whether you're attending for a specific Amrit Snan or just visiting the grounds — the crowd, cost and booking window differ hugely between the two. See Upcoming Dates.
2. Book accommodation early
Tents, ashram stays and hotels near the ghats fill first and prices rise sharply in the final month before a major Snan. See Book Stay.
3. Sort out transport
Check festival-special train timetables and road diversions, which are usually only announced a few weeks out. See By Train or By Air.
4. Pack light, pack smart
Comfortable modest clothing, a reusable water bottle, personal medication, and a dry-bag for valuables cover most of it. See the full Travel Guide.
5. Know the safety basics
Bathe before or after peak hours if you're with children or elderly relatives, and always follow on-ground marshal instructions, even on an indirect route.
6. Cross-check with official sources
Exact Amrit Snan timings, road closures and safety advisories are confirmed by the state administration — verify close to your travel date. See Official Websites.
New to Kumbh?
Terms you'll see across this site
A quick glossary so the tables and dates above make sense at a glance.
- Amrit Snan / Shahi Snan
- The handful of royal bathing days believed to carry the greatest spiritual weight, led by the Akhadas.
- Purna Kumbh
- The full event, once every 12 years, at one of the four rivers.
- Ardh Kumbh
- The "half" Kumbh at Haridwar or Prayagraj, roughly midway through the 12-year cycle.
- Akhada
- An organised monastic order of ascetics that processes into the water in a fixed ceremonial sequence.
- Kalpavas
- A month-long period of austere riverside living observed by devoted pilgrims through the Mela.
- Dhwajarohan
- The flag-hoisting ceremony that formally opens a Kumbh Mela.
Beyond astrology
The seven chakras and the sacred bath
Kumbh Mela's timing comes from astrology, but the reason pilgrims bathe at all comes from a separate, older strand of tradition — the yogic map of the body's seven chakras, or energy centres, ascending from the base of the spine to the crown of the head. In this tradition, the sacred dip is held to be more than physical cleansing: a symbolic washing-through of all seven centres at once, said to loosen what blocks each one and, at the crown, to open toward Moksha itself. What follows is a description of that tradition and belief — not a claim this site makes about physical or medical effect.
Ascending from Muladhara (root) to Sahasrara (crown) — each ring marked with its traditional petal count
| Chakra | Element | Bija Mantra | What the bath is said to move toward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muladhara — root | Prithvi (Earth) | Lam | Grounding and stability — the physical endurance behind Kalpavas and the pilgrimage itself. |
| Svadhisthana — sacral | Jala (Water) | Vam | Fluidity and adaptability — fittingly the centre most associated with the river itself. |
| Manipura — solar plexus | Agni (Fire) | Ram | Willpower — the discipline to rise before dawn and complete a Kalpavas vow. |
| Anahata — heart | Vayu (Air) | Yam | Compassion and unity — the sense of connection pilgrims describe among millions of strangers bathing together. |
| Vishuddha — throat | Akasha (Ether) | Ham | Truth and expression — chanting, mantra, and the collective sound of the ghats on a Snan day. |
| Ajna — third eye | Beyond the five elements | Om | Intuition and clarity — the inward focus many describe feeling after Kalpavas or a principal Snan. |
| Sahasrara — crown | Pure consciousness | Silence | Moksha itself — the liberation the sacred bath is ultimately said to move a pilgrim toward. |
This table describes belief and lived tradition, not a claim of physical or medical effect. Petal counts, bija mantras and element associations follow the classical Hatha Yoga texts most commonly cited alongside Kumbh Mela's spiritual literature.
Independent, non-official website
Kumbh Mela Dates is a privately run informational website. It is not a government website, and it is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated on behalf of any central, state, or local government authority, nor any Akhada or religious institution. Dates are calculated and cross-checked carefully, but exact Amrit Snan days are ultimately confirmed by the relevant state administration — always verify time-sensitive details through official sources before travelling. See our full Disclaimer.
From the blog
Latest reads on the live cycle
Longer-form coverage of the Nashik–Trimbakeshwar Kumbh and the wider cycle, beyond just the dates.
FEATURE · 29 Aug 2026 · 7 min read
Nashik Kumbh 2026–27: What to Expect
A twin-city Kumbh, a monsoon-season calendar, and a cycle that opened quietly in October — here's what actually makes this one different.
Read the story →
ANALYSIS · 29 Aug 2026 · 8 min read
Crowd Safety at Kumbh Mela: What's Different for Nashik 2026–27
After the 2025 Prayagraj tragedy, crowd safety is the question every host city now has to answer first.
Read the story →
Go deeper
Kumbh Mela History
From ancient scripture to the modern administrative event it is today.
Shahi Snan Explained
The full story behind the name, and how it differs from Amrit Snan.
Maha Kumbh
Why Prayagraj's largest editions get this separate name.
Kumbh Mela Year List
Every Kumbh, by year, going back through the last full cycle.
Completed Events Archive
Attendance figures and Snan calendars from the last decade of Melas.
Kumbh Mela Registration
What registration exists, who needs it, and how it works.
Part of the Kumbh Mela network
Kumbh Mela Locations
The four rivers, their ghats, akhadas and how to reach each city — one deep guide per location.
Explore locations →Kumbh Mela Directory
Verified tents, cottages, ashrams and transport, searchable by city and by what you actually need.
Browse the directory →Official Government Sources
For binding announcements and safety advisories, always cross-check with the state administration.
Visit kumbh.gov.in →Kundali.One
Authentic Vedic Janam Kundali and astrology guidance for understanding your birth chart, timing and life questions.
Explore Kundali.One →