Kumbh Mela, the grandest of all gatherings is a commingling of millions of souls that come together to purge themselves before entering the heavenly realm of God; it is an open invitation, which is grabbed on like the very last opportunity by the devotees to deem themselves fit for an entry. It is held every three years in each of the four different locations - Allahabad, Haridwar, Nasik and Ujjain, returning to each of the four places after a gap of every twelve years. Besides the regular Kumbh Mela, an Ardh (half) Kumbh Mela takes place six years after the Maha Kumbh in each of the location. And how it lands up in each location varies according to what position the Sun, Moon, and Jupiter hold in that period in different zodiac signs.It comes to Haridwar when Jupiter is in Aquarius and Sun is in Aries during the Hindu month of Chaitra i.e. in the month of March-April. In Allahabad it is celebrated in the month of January-February when Jupiter is in Aries or Taurus and Sun and Moon are in Capricorn during the Hindu month of Magha. In the Hindu month of Bhadraprada (August-September), when Sun and Jupiter are in Leo, Kumbh Mela comes to Nasik. And Ujjain gets to organize it when Jupiter is in Leo and Sun is in Aries, or when all three are in Libra during the Hindu month of Vaisakha i.e. April-May. Below is a comprehensive list of Kumbh Mela dates with the names of the host cities.
Haridwar Maha Kumbh Mela 2021 - Main Bathing (Snan) Dates:
| Date (2021) | Day | Event |
| 14th January | Thursday | Makar Sankranti |
| 11th February | Thursday | Mauni Amavasya |
| 16th February | Tuesday | Basant Panchami |
| 27th February | Saturday | Maghi Poornima |
| 11th March | Thursday | Mahashivratri (1st Shahi Snan) |
| 12th April | Monday | Somvati Amamvasya (2nd Shahi Snan) |
| 13th April | Tuesday | Chaitra Shukla Pratipada |
| 14th April | Wednesday | Baishakhi (3rd Shahi Snan) |
| 21st April | Wednesday | Ram Navami |
| 27th April | Tuesday | Chaitra Purnima (4th Shahi Snan) |
Kumbh Mela Dates 2019 (Allahabad)
The Kumbh Mela was held in Allahabad (Prayag) in the year 2019 from 15th of January till 4th of March. Below is a table mentioning the important dates of Ardh Kumbh Mela 2019:
| Date (2019) | Day | Event |
| 15th January | Tuesday | Makar Sankranti (1St shahi Snan) |
| 21st January | Monday | Paush Purnima |
| 4th February | Monday | Mauni Amavasya (Main Royal Bath 2nd Shahi Snan) |
| 10th February | Sunday | Basant Panchami (3rd shahi Snan) |
| 19th February | Tuesday | Maghi Poornima |
| 4th March | Monday | Maha Shivratri |
Kumbh Mela Dates 2016 (Ujjain)
The Maha Kumbh Mela was held in Ujjain in the year 2016 from 22nd of April and to 21st of May 2016.
| Date (2016) | Day | Event |
| 22nd April | Friday | Purnima First Shahi Snaan (Royal Holy Dip) |
| 3rd May | Tuesday | Vratparv Vauthini Ekadashi |
| 6th May | Friday | Vaishakh Krishna Amavasya (First Pramukh Snan) |
| 9th May | Monday | Shukla/Akshey Tritya (Second Pramukh Snan) |
| 11th May | Wednesday | Shukla Panchami |
| 15th May | Sunday | Vrishabh Sankranti |
| 17th May | Tuesday | Ekadashi & Pradosh Snan |
| 19th May | Thursday | Pradosh |
| 20th May | Friday | Nursingh Jayanti |
| 21st May | Saturday | Purnima Main Shahi Snan |
Kumbh Mela Dates 2015 (Nasik)
The Kumbh Mela was held in Nasik in the year 2015 from 14th July and to 11th August 2016. Below is a table mentioning the important dates of the Kumbh Mela Nasik in 2015: