Kumbh Mela Places
Traditionally, the following four Kumbh Mela sites are recognized: Prayag (Allahabad), Haridwar, Trimbak (Nashik) and Ujjain. Priests at other places have also attempted to boost the status of their tirtha by adapting the Kumbh legends. The places whose festivals have been claimed as " Kumbh Mela" include Varanasi, Vrindavan, Kumbhakonam (Mahamaham) and Rajim (Rajim Kumbh). Even a site in Tibet has hosted a festival claimed to be a Kumbh Mela. Each site's celebration dates are calculated in advance according to a special combination of zodiacal positions of Bṛhaspati (Jupiter), the Sun and the Moon.
| Place |
River |
Zodiac |
Month |
Note |
| Prayag (Allahabad) |
Ganga and Yamuna |
Jupiter in Aries / Taurus, Sun and Moon in Capricorn |
Magha (January-February) |
"Magh Mela", called the "mini Kumbh Mela", is held annually |
| Haridwar |
Ganga |
Jupiter in Aquarius, Sun in Aries |
Chaitra (March-April) |
|
| Trimbak (Nashik) |
Godavari |
Jupiter and Sun in Leo
or Jupiter, Sun and Moon in Cancer on lunar conjunction (Amavasya) |
Bhadrapada (August-September) |
Also known as Simhastha / Sinhastha, when Leo is involved |
| Ujjain |
Shipra |
Jupiter in Leo, Sun in Aries
or Jupiter, Sun, and Moon in Libra on Kartik Amavasya |
Vaisakha (April-May) |
Also known as Simhastha / Sinhastha, when Leo is involved |