A ritual bath called the "Shahi Snan" is a major event of which fair?

The Shahi Snan ("royal bath") is the most important ritual of the Kumbh Mela. On fixed auspicious dates, the sadhus of the various akharas (Hindu monastic orders) go in grand processions to the river and take the first holy dip. Ordinary pilgrims bathe after them. For the 2025 Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj, the government and akharas began using the name "Amrit Snan" for these baths.

The akhara processions are a spectacle. The Naga sadhus, who are naked ascetics covered in ash, lead the way, followed by the heads of the akharas on decorated chariots, elephants or horses. There are 13 recognised akharas, grouped into Shaiva (followers of Shiva), Vaishnava (followers of Vishnu) and Udasin groups. The order in which they bathe is fixed by tradition.

The Kumbh Mela is held at four places by rotation:

• Haridwar on the Ganga.
• Prayagraj at the Triveni Sangam.
• Nashik-Trimbakeshwar on the Godavari.
• Ujjain on the Kshipra.

A full Kumbh is held at each site roughly every 12 years. An Ardh (half) Kumbh is held at Haridwar and Prayagraj every 6 years, and a Maha Kumbh is held at Prayagraj after 144 years (12 Kumbh cycles); one was held in 2025. The timing depends on the positions of Jupiter, the Sun and the Moon.

The Kumbh is described as the largest peaceful gathering of people in the world. UNESCO added it to the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2017.

Why not the other options?

• ✗The Pushkar Mela in Rajasthan is famous for its camel fair and holy lake.
• ✗The Gangasagar Mela is held at Sagar Island on Makar Sankranti.
• ✗The Sonepur Mela in Bihar is a cattle fair.