Kumbh Mela Prayagraj

In 2025 the Kumbh Mela of Prayagraj is held and again PhotoTravel will be there. But this is not just any Kumbh Mela, this is the Maha Kumbh Mela, a unique event that only happens every 12 years, and this time it is celebrated in a city as special as Prayagraj, formerly known as Allahabad.

What is Kumbh Mela?

The Kumbh Mela is the festival with the largest number of pilgrims on the planet (up to 100 million people in 50 days). It takes place four times every twelve years, once in each of the following towns in India: Prayag (Allahabad), Nasik, on the banks of the Godavari River, Ujjian, near the Ksipra River, and Haridwar, on the banks of the holy Ganges River.

The Kumbh Mela is based on the Hindu myth of the “churning of the ocean of milk.” In early times, devas (gods) and asuras (demons) made a provisional alliance to work together in the elaboration of amrita, the nectar of immortality. However, at one point, the demons snatched him and fled far away, being pursued by the gods. For twelve divine days and twelve nights (the equivalent of twelve human years), gods and demons battled in heaven for possession of the amrita vessel. During the battle, some drops of amrita fell in four places: Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik, which is why these cities are sacred and in them the Kumbh Mela is celebrated.

Hindus think that those who bathe in the sacred waters during the Kumbh Mela are eternally blessed by the divine, it will cleanse them and their ascendants of all their sins in 88 generations.

What will you see and photograph during the Kumbh Mela?

One of the main attractions of the Kumbh mela is the ability to see and interact with the elusive Naga Sadhus. We will be able to visit them in their Juna Akharas, in addition to observing from a privileged place the preparation of the rituals prior to the sacred baths and participate with them in the ceremonial parades.

During the Kumbh Mela , the city becomes the nerve center of religious debates and assemblies. In addition to millions of pilgrims, this festival is attended by the most varied mixture of Gurus, sadhus and saints of all kinds. Apart from the Nagas already mentioned, you will see the Urdhwavahurs, who continually subject the body to severe austerities and penances, or the Parivajakas, who have taken a vow of silence, the Shirshasinse, who are always standing, sleep with their heads resting on a vertical pole, the Kalpvasis, who stand on the banks of the river and spend their time meditating, perform rituals and bathe numerous times a day, to the Dandis, dressed in orange and carrying a large flag of the same color, and even to Sadhvis, sadhu women.

Why travel to Kumbh Mela Prayagraj with PhotoTravel?

PhotoTravel is an agency with extensive experience in organizing trips to India. The Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj will be our third edition of photographic trips to the Kumbh Mela, after the magnificent experiences of Nashik and Allahabad 2019. The organization of a photographic trip to an event of these characteristics, which will be attended by millions of devotees from all over the world to experience the religious and secular aspects of this mega event, requires meticulous planning, so PhotoTravel has already put its machine to work so that you can enjoy the most pleasant and enriching experience. not only on a photographic and cultural level, but also on a human level. Our goal is to live up to the event, as was already the case at the successful Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj 2019, and to be with our cameras in the front row at important events, such as the sacred baths of the Naga Sadhus on the Ganges River, in which millions of people will participate. We have the logistics and experience so that, in addition to enjoying the cultural aspects of the Kumbh Mela, you can take the best photographs.

What bathrooms are we going to see at the Kumbh Mela Prayagraj 2025?

We will attend the two main and most important baths of the Kumbh Mela, called Shahi Snan are the baths of the Gurus, the Naga Sadhus ascetics and their disciples.

• Makar Sankranti (Shahi Snan/Royal Bathing)
• Mauni Amawashya (Shahi Snan/Royal Bathing)

The Shahi Snan of the Kumbh Mela begin around 4 a.m. when the ascetics and saints come out of the Juna Akhadas in procession with their weapons: spears, swords, tridents… shouting loudly: “Har Har Mahadev”, “Har Har Gange”, one of the most exciting moments.

For this Kumbh Mela from Prayagraj 2025 PhotoTravel we are going to make two Photographic Trips on two different dates and you can choose the one that interests you the most, I explain the pros and cons of each one.

• January Group, from January 8 to 20, 2025

• Grupo Febrero, from January 23 to February 4, 2025

STRENGTHS

• The advantage of this trip is that you will be able to attend the first sacred bath called Makar Sankranti, (Royal Bath) is the most important for the Naga Sadhus of the Kumbh Mela.
• Another advantage is that the Kumbh Mela is beginning, there are fewer pilgrims and very few international photographers which makes it easier for us to focus on the most interesting photographs with the Naga Sadhus.

WEAKNESSES

• On the other hand, the Kumbh Mela is not at its peak

STRENGTHS

• The advantage of this trip is that you can optionally attend two sacred baths. The first of them, Mauni Amavasya, (Main Royal Bath) is the most important of the Kumbh Mela, and it is spectacular to see the initiation rite of the new Naga Sadhus.

WEAKNESSES

• On the other hand, these are the baths with the highest accumulation of pilgrims, which makes it difficult to take photographs. On these dates there will be many more tourists and photographers.

Single room supplement Delhi & Varanasi 300€

Kumbh Mela single room supplement 500€

How to book and guarantee my place?

At the Kumbh Mela good accommodations sell out very quickly and a year and a half before you can book it. To guarantee the place we must write to info@phototravel.es and we will send you all the documentation we need and a reservation payment of € 500.

There is still a long time to go, if I can’t go I lose my reservation?

No, at PhotoTravel we have Cancellation Insurance available to our customers.

The deadline to reserve your seat expires on December 15, 2024, it is recommended to do so as soon as possible due to the rise in air flight prices.

Includes

• Technical and photographic advice from Gonzalo Sáenz de Santa María Poullet
• Transfer International Airport – Hotel – International Airport.
• Transfer by Minibus Varanasi – Prayagraj
• Hotel New Delhi in a double room on breakfast basis.
• Hotel Varanasi in a double room with breakfast on a breakfast basis.
• Accommodation Prayag Kumbhen Camp Premium Deluxe category in triple room, full board (Indian vegetarian), double or single option (ask supplement)
• Assistance during the Holy Bath
• Cook and security service at our camp
• Compulsory travel, sickness and accident insurance.
• Fees included
• Kumbh Mela Permits

Not included

• International flights Madrid – New Delhi
• Domestic flight Delhi – Varanasi (l/f)
• Getting around the city
• Indian visa, from PhotoTravel we carry out the management.
• Anything that is not listed as included.

What is our Camp at Kumbh Mela Allahabad like?

Camp in Prayag Kumbh, are prefabricated house structures

PREMIUM DELUXE.

• Triple rooms on a full board basis, Indian vegetarian food.
• Private bathrooms with hot water.
• Light and Electricity
• Vigilant Security Service, with security cameras.
• Assistance during the Holy Bath day.

We will stay in a camp within the Kumb Mela enclosure where we will hire native guides to move around the enclosure and attend the events; Private security inside the camp so that you can keep an eye on our belongings. Our camp is set up with prefabricated modules with three single beds and a bathroom. We also offer the possibility of accommodation in double and single rooms for an additional fee. Full board is included on the days we stay here. A simple camp, which will allow us to move easily in the artificial city that is being built in Prayagraj for those days.

You have to keep in mind that…

• During the Kumbh Mela, millions of pilgrims congregate. Yes, millions!, which will make it very difficult to walk in a group. It is impossible to take photos and expect the rest of the group to wait for you. Therefore, the most practical thing to do is to divide ourselves into small groups of two or three people and concentrate at lunch and dinner time.

• For this trip PhotoTravel will organize all the transportation and administration issues, and will take you to the places where you can take the photographs, but there your work as a photographer will begin, and in that we can no longer assist you, you will have to take your own initiatives. However, at the Prayagraj camp we have hired native guides to guide us and solve possible unforeseen events.

• To always be in touch with the rest of the group, as soon as we arrive in India we will each buy a phone Sim card with an Indian number. This will make it easier to have access to the Internet and phone calls at all times. Don’t forget to bring a passport-size photo to buy your sim card. It is also convenient that you download a GPS location application on your mobile phone, so you will always know where you are and you will know the way back to our accommodation.

We remind you that it is a Photographic Journey and not a Photography Course. Our goal is to look for the best locations, where Gonzalo Sáenz de Santa María Poullet, an expert in Indian culture and a professional photographer specialized in travel photography, will always be at your disposal both technically and for advice, who will accompany you throughout the tour.

Booking method

Contact the PhotoTravel team by filling out the booking from the website or by email to info@phototravel.es, you can also do it by phone at +34 616 22 42 82.

Terms & Conditions

PhotoTravel Photo Travel Agency

Registered trademark of PHOTOTRAVEL WORLD S.L.U. with NIF: B67637835, Calle Mayorga 7, Local 3.2 C.P: 28043 MADRID

Contact telephone +34 616 22 42 82

Email address info@phototravel.es

CICMA Travel Agency License Number 4236, carries out the contracting of services, accommodation and travel packages in accordance with current European and Spanish legislation

PhotoTravel accredited as a Responsible Tourism Agency, by the InterMundial Foundation and the Responsible Tourism Institute