The story of Samudra Manthan, one of the best-known episodes in the Hindu mythology, narrated in the Bhagavad Purana states that the sacred alignments of celestial bodies directly relate to the Kumbh festival. It took 12 divine days to carry the Amrit to the heavens. As one divine day of Gods is equivalent to one year of the humans, the journey to the heavens symbolizes 12 years in human terms.
That is why every twelfth year when Jupiter enters the Aries constellation on the day of the new moon in the month of Magh, the Kumbh festival is organized. Mythological studies suggest that the Kumbh festival and the Ganga are related to each other, the Ganga flows in Prayagraj. The Godavari of Nasik is called the Dakshin Ganga. Similarly, the Shipra (in Ujjain) is recognized as the north branch, the Ganga of Kashi. From that place onwards, Shipra becomes the east branch where it assimilates with the Ganga.
In continuation to the astrological calculation, the event of Kumbh takes place as per the following astrological positions:
- When Jupiter enters the Aquarius constellation along with the Sun moving in to the Aries constellation, the Kumbh festival is held at Haridwar.
- When Jupiter moves in to Leo, the Kumbh festival is held at Nasik on the banks of Godavari.
- In the event of Jupiter moving in to Leo and the Sun entering Aries, the Kumbh festival is held at Ujjain.
- When Jupiter enters Libra and the Sun and the Moon remain together on Kartik Amavasya (8th month of Hindu year) then also the Kumbh Festival is held at Ujjain.
- When Jupiter, the Sun, and the Moon enter Cancer on lunar conjunction (Amavasya), then also the Kumbh Festival is held on the banks of river Godavari.
- When Jupiter enters the Aries constellation and the Sun and the Moon are in Capricorn constellation, the Kumbh festival is held at Prayagraj on the new moon day.
- When the Sun is in Capricorn and Jupiter moves into Taurus, the Kumbh festival is held at Prayagraj.