kumbha

Kumbha is a term with multiple uses in Indian culture, rooted in the Sanskrit word kumbha meaning a pot, jar, or pitcher. In everyday language, it refers to a vessel, but the word also appears in religious, astrological, and ceremonial contexts. As a proper name, Kumbha appears in historical and contemporary Indian contexts.

One of the best-known uses is the Kumbha Mela, a major Hindu pilgrimage festival held at intervals of about twelve years at four locations: Prayagraj (Allahabad) at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati; Nashik on the Godavari; Ujjain on the Shipra; and Haridwar on the Ganges. The festival involves ritual baths, processions, scholarly discourse, and devotional activities, attracting millions of participants. The cycle is tied to Hindu myth about the nectar of immortality spilled during a celestial event. Ardha Kumbha and Maha Kumbha refer to half- and full-cycle phases within the festival, with the latter occurring roughly every twelve years and the former at six-year intervals at specific sites. In 2019, the Kumbh Mela was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, highlighting its cultural significance.

Kumbha also appears in Hindu astrology as Kumbha Rashi, the sign of Aquarius in Indian astrological tradition. In temple rites, kumbha refers to a sacred vessel used in ceremonies such as kumbhabhishekham, the consecration of a temple or its deities, which often involves ritual waters and pouring.

Notable historical figures bearing the name include Rana Kumbha, a 15th-century ruler of Mewar in Rajasthan, known for fortifications, patronage of the arts, and military campaigns.