Kumbh Mela: India races to prepare huge Prayagraj gathering

The festival, which concludes on 26 February, has been recognised as an Intangible Heritage of Humanity by the United Nations agency Unesco.

Its origin is rooted in a mythological story about a fight between the gods and demons over a Kumbh (a pitcher) of nectar that emerged during the churching of ocean.

As the two sides fought over the pot of elixir that promised them immortality, a few drops spilled over and fell in four cities – Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik.

As the fight went on for 12 celestial years – each equal to 12 years on Earth – Kumbh Mela festival is held every 12 years in the four cities. An ardh or a half Kumbh is organised halfway between two festivals.

The mela is organised in all the four cities, but the biggest festivals, where previous attendance records are broken, are always held in Prayagraj.

Hindu seer Mahant Ravindra Puri said the festival this time round was “extra special” and described it as “a Maha [great] Kumbh”.

“That’s because the current alignment of planets and stars is identical to what existed at the moment of the spill,” he told the BBC.

“Such perfection is being observed after 12 Kumbh festivals or 144 years,” he said.