prayag

Prayag is a Sanskrit term meaning confluence. In Hindu geography and religion, it denotes sacred places where rivers meet and pilgrims perform rites. The most famous Prayag is the site at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers, traditionally believed to be the Triveni Sangam, where the Ganga and Yamuna meet and many Hindus hold it to be the point where the Saraswati is present as well.

The city most closely associated with Prayag is Prayagraj, formerly Allahabad, located in Uttar Pradesh, northern India. Prayagraj sits at the geographic and symbolic heart of the Indian subcontinent and has long been an important center of learning, religion, and administration. It is mentioned in various Hindu scriptures, as well as Buddhist and Jain chronicles, and has been a common destination for pilgrimages and rites tied to river confluences.

In Hindu practice, Prayag sites are believed to be highly auspicious for spiritual cleansing and merit. The Prayagraj site hosts major religious events, most notably the Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years at the Triveni Sangam, with other large gatherings such as the Ardh Kumbh Mela occurring every six years. These gatherings attract millions of pilgrims from across India and beyond, making Prayag-associated locations some of the world’s largest religious assemblies.

In contemporary usage, Prayag also appears as a general term for confluence sites in literature and place names. The city commonly referred to as Prayagraj is part of the broader legacy of Prayag as a sacred confluence in Indian culture.