First written account of the Kumbh Mela

People of all faiths worldwide flock to the Kumbh Mela, a primarily Hindu congregation, which is also the world’s largest religious gathering. The ‘once every-144-year Maha Kumbh’ that last took place in 2013 saw 100 million pilgrims take a dip in the Sangam at Prayag, Allahabad. For a month, beginning January 14, the Maha Kumbh attracted not just Hindu monks and sadhus from all over India, but also people of all faiths from unlikely corners of the world. The first written’ account of the Kumbh Mela was penned by the 7th-century Chinese traveller, Xuanzang (Hieun Tsang), who visited India in 629-645 CE.