Completed Kumbh Mela & Magh Mela events
An archive of recent gatherings, kept for reference and for anyone researching how these dates have played out in the past.
Prayagraj · 2026
Magh Mela 2026
Magh Mela is the smaller, annual gathering held at Prayagraj's Sangam in years without a Kumbh — this year's edition ran through January and February.
| Date | Event / Snan |
|---|---|
| 3 Jan 2026 | Paush Purnima — beginning of Kalpavas |
| 14 Jan 2026 | Makar Sankranti Snan |
| 18 Jan 2026 | Mauni Amavasya — main royal bathing day |
| 23 Jan 2026 | Vasant Panchami Snan |
| 1 Feb 2026 | Maghi Purnima Snan |
| 15 Feb 2026 | Maha Shivratri — last bathing day |
Recent history
The last decade of major Kumbh events
Prayagraj Maha Kumbh — 2025
One of the largest single gatherings ever recorded, drawing tens of millions of pilgrims to the Sangam over roughly six weeks.
Haridwar Kumbh — 2021
Held at Har Ki Pauri amid a shortened, scaled-back schedule due to public health restrictions in effect that year.
Ujjain Simhastha — 2016
The most recent full Kumbh at Ujjain's Shipra river, marking Jupiter's prior transit through Leo.
Nashik Simhastha — 2015
The last full Kumbh at Nashik–Trimbakeshwar before the current 2026–27 edition.
Why we keep this archive
Past events help predict crowd patterns
Attendance, peak-day crowding, and logistics from previous Melas are the best available guide to what the next one will feel like. We keep this archive updated rather than deleting past events once they conclude.
Full record
Every major Kumbh & Ardh Kumbh, 2010–2025
Extending the archive back through the previous cycle, with approximate peak-day and total attendance where reliably reported.
| Year | Event | City & River | Approx. attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Maha Kumbh (Purna) | Prayagraj — Ganga–Yamuna Sangam | 400 million+ over the full event |
| 2021 | Kumbh (scaled back) | Haridwar — Ganga | Restricted footfall; single-digit millions on peak days |
| 2019 | Kumbh (Ardh, popularly branded "Kumbh") | Prayagraj — Sangam | Approx. 240 million over the full event |
| 2016 | Simhastha (Purna) | Ujjain — Shipra | Approx. 75 million over the full event |
| 2015 | Simhastha (Purna) | Nashik–Trimbakeshwar — Godavari | Approx. 75 million over the full event |
| 2013 | Maha Kumbh (Purna) | Prayagraj — Sangam | Approx. 120 million over the full event |
| 2010 | Kumbh (Purna) | Haridwar — Ganga | Approx. 65 million over the full event |
Attendance figures for older Melas come from a mix of state-government estimates and media reporting methods that have varied over time, so treat them as approximate rather than precisely comparable across years.
Archive methodology
How and when an event moves into this archive
1. It stays "upcoming" until the last Snan
An event remains on our Upcoming Dates calendar right up until its final bathing day concludes.
2. It's logged here with its full Snan calendar
Once complete, we record the full sequence of Snan dates it actually followed, kept exactly as it happened — not projected.
3. Attendance and notes are added as reported
Where state or media attendance figures are published, we add them here for researchers and future planning comparisons.
Frequently asked
Questions about past Kumbh events
The Prayagraj Maha Kumbh of 2025 is widely regarded as the largest single religious gathering ever recorded, with cumulative attendance estimated in the hundreds of millions over about six weeks.
Past attendance, crowd patterns and logistics are the most reliable guide to what an upcoming Mela will look like, so we keep completed events for reference rather than deleting them.
A Kumbh follows the 12-year planetary cycle at one of four cities. A Magh Mela is a smaller annual gathering held at Prayagraj in years that aren't a Kumbh or Ardh Kumbh year.
See our Upcoming Kumbh Mela Dates calendar, or Next Kumbh Mela for just the very next one on the calendar.