The Kumbh Mela has been recognized by Unesco as an “intangible cultural heritage of humanity”, a tweet posted on Thursday by the international organization said.

The intergovernmental committee for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage under the UN body inscribed the Kumbh Mela on the “representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity” at its 12th session in Jeju, South Korea.

The meeting, which opened on 4 December, will end on 9 December. Kumbh Mela, considered the world’s largest congregation of religious pilgrims, joins new elements from Botswana, Colombia, Venezuela, Mongolia, Morocco, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates on the list. “A very proud moment for us as sacred Kumbh Mela is just inscribed as the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO,” culture minister Mahesh Sharma tweeted.

The inscription of elements on the list helps countries which are a part of Unesco’s convention for safeguarding cultural heritage to mobilize international cooperation and assistance for ensuring that communities continue to practise and transmit such aspects of their heritage.

The Kumbh Mela, held in Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik, represents a syncretic set of rituals related to worship and cleansing in holy rivers. The inscription of Kumbh Mela was recommended by the expert body which examines in detail nominations submitted by member states. The committee also took note of the fact that knowledge and skills related to the Kumbh Mela are transmitted through the guru-shishya parampara (teacher-student relationship) by way of saints and sadhus teaching their disciples about traditional rituals and chants.

Nashik Kumbhamela 2015

The Sinhastha Kumbhamela 2015  Nashik

By far the most spectacular of all the events, the Kumbh Mela is a religious festival that occurs once every 12 years, and is celebrated in four major pilgrim centres around the country. In Maharastra, the festival is held in Trimbakeshwar, Nashik. The Nashik Kumbh Mela is generally acknowledged to be the most sacred of all the festivals. 

Why every 12 years? 

'Amrut' had to be saved from Danavas. So Gods had to hide it at different places - Swargalok, Mrutyulok and Patallok. Gods were on Mrutyulok (earth) for twelve days. Gods twelve days are equal to 12 years for Mrutyulok . Thus Gods were on earth for 12 years with Amrut. Hence every 12 years Kumbha Mela is celebrated at the four places, where a few drops of Amrut had fallen.


Nashik -Trimbakeshwar host one of the largest religious gathering in the world known as Sinhastha Kumbh Mela commonly called as Nashik Kumbh Mela. Kumbh mela (festival) is celebrated once in twelve years. The Ardh (half) Kumbh Mela is celebrated every six years at Haridwar and Allahabad, the Purna (complete) Kumbh takes place every twelve years at four places in Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik. Previous kumbh mela in Nashik was in year 2003. Next kumbh mela in Nashik will be held from August 15 to September 13 in 2015.
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Why visit Kumbh Mela in Nashik? 

The Nashik Kumbh Mela is scheduled between July 14-Sep 25, 2015, with the Shahi Snaan on August 29, Sep 13 and Sep 25 (Shahi Snaan are the most important dates where every hindu religion follower, sadhus wants to take the holy dip at Ganges) All foregin guest and travelers are advised to reserve the camps and tours focusing around Shahi Snaan during Nashik Kumbh Mela 2015. 
Nashik-Trimbakeshwar is among the four places in India - along with Ujjain, Allahabad and Haridwar - where the Kumbh Mela is held every 12 years. During the last Kumbh Mela in Nashik-Trimbakeshwar in 2003, around six million people from all over the world took part.