Why do millions of people attend the Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj?

Millions of people attend the Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj because it is considered one of the most sacred Hindu pilgrimages. The festival is deeply rooted in the legend of the Samudra Manthana, which recounts how drops of amrit (the elixir of immortality) fell at four earthly sites, including Prayagraj, where the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers converge.123

Pilgrims believe that during astrologically auspicious periods, the river waters at these sites transform into vessels of this primordial nectar. By bathing in the rivers at these specific times, devotees seek to receive the purifying powers and spiritual benefits associated with the elixir. The event, recognized by UNESCO for its cultural significance, also serves as a historic gathering place for learned ascetics and scholars to engage in religious discourse and debate.231