Kumbh Mela festival

Kumbh Mela festival

A view of tents and akharas (centers of spiritual learning) in the evening, taken from Shastri Bridge.

A view of tents and akharas (centers of spiritual learning) in the evening, taken from Shastri Bridge.

Pilgrims and tourists walk toward the Triveni Sangam.

Pilgrims and tourists walk toward the Triveni Sangam.

Pilgrims bathe at Triveni Sangam during Kumbh Mela.

Pilgrims bathe at Triveni Sangam during Kumbh Mela.

People cross a pontoon bridge, commonly known as pipe ka pul.

People cross a pontoon bridge, commonly known as pipe ka pul.

Ramesh Kumar Manjhi, also known as Kaante Wale Baba or Thorn Baba, meditates on his bed of acacia thorns.

Ramesh Kumar Manjhi, also known as Kaante Wale Baba or Thorn Baba, meditates on his bed of acacia thorns.

A portrait of a local resident of Jhusi, Uttar Pradesh during his shift as a brass band member.

A portrait of a local resident of Jhusi, Uttar Pradesh during his shift as a brass band member.

A portrait of a local resident of Jhusi, Uttar Pradesh during his shift as a brass band member.

A portrait of a local resident of Jhusi, Uttar Pradesh during his shift as a brass band member.

The afternoon procession of akharas from across India during the Kumbh Mela.

The afternoon procession of akharas from across India during the Kumbh Mela.

A woman holds onto another woman’s sari in order to avoid getting lost in the crowd.

A woman holds onto another woman’s sari in order to avoid getting lost in the crowd.

Pilgrims and tourists head to the Kumbh at dawn.

Pilgrims and tourists head to the Kumbh at dawn.

View from Shastri Bridge as pilgrims and tourists walk to the Triveni Sangam.

View from Shastri Bridge as pilgrims and tourists walk to the Triveni Sangam.

A sadhu (holy person in Hinduism) offers his blessings during a procession at Kumbh Mela.

A sadhu (holy person in Hinduism) offers his blessings during a procession at Kumbh Mela.

A group of families take a break at Shastri Bridge, Uttar Pradesh during Kumbh Mela.

A group of families take a break at Shastri Bridge, Uttar Pradesh during Kumbh Mela.

Tourists and pilgrims gather at the confluence of three rivers called Triveni Sangam, Uttar Pradesh on the night of India’s mid-winter harvest festival, Makar Sankranti.

Tourists and pilgrims gather at the confluence of three rivers called Triveni Sangam, Uttar Pradesh on the night of India’s mid-winter harvest festival, Makar Sankranti.

A sadhu rides a decorated camel at Kumbh Mela.

A sadhu rides a decorated camel at Kumbh Mela.

A group of families and neighbors take a break at Shastri Bridge during Kumbh Mela.

A group of families and neighbors take a break at Shastri Bridge during Kumbh Mela.

A young boy passes through the procession.

A young boy passes through the procession.

A man rests under a blanket, lying on dry grass laid out for insulation from the cold ground.

A man rests under a blanket, lying on dry grass laid out for insulation from the cold ground.

A boat rider rests inside a boat at Triveni Sangam during sunset.

A boat rider rests inside a boat at Triveni Sangam during sunset.

Women buy sindoor (a traditional vermillion cosmetic powder) in Kumbh.

Women buy sindoor (a traditional vermillion cosmetic powder) in Kumbh.

A woman wearing a ghoonghat walks from Rajasthan to Kumbh Mela.

A woman wearing a ghoonghat walks from Rajasthan to Kumbh Mela.

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Art & Culture

The Sacred Confluence of India’s Massive Kumbh Mela Festival

08.20.2025

Photographs by Ashish Shah

Kumbh Mela, held along the banks of India’s sacred rivers, draws millions of Hindu pilgrims together in their pursuit of spiritual liberation.

Photography Assistant Anish Oommen

This story first appeared in Atmos Volume 11: Micro/Macro with the headline, “Sacred Confluence.”

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