Daan means giving, and at the Kumbh it is part of the pilgrimage itself: according to tradition, food, clothes, lamps, money and offerings for ancestors given at the mela bring merit to both the giver and the receiver. Give in person, to people and institutions you can see, and never send money to a link or account in the mela’s name that you cannot check.
Why daan matters in the tradition
The Prayagraj Mela Authority’s site says daan during the Kumbh holds great significance, and that both the giver and the receiver benefit. It adds that giving at the Kumbh is considered greater even than renunciation. Its page on the social side of the mela describes giving to the poor, the helpless and to saints as a prominent part of the festival, with gifts that range from basic food and clothing to precious metals.
Daan is also built into longer vows. Among the rules of kalpvas listed by the mela authority is to give according to one’s means. In 2025, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) reported, kalpvasis ended their month at the Sangam with a last dip, puja and daan, and by tradition made offerings to their tirthpurohits, the family priests at the tirth.
What people give
| Form of daan | What it is |
|---|---|
| Food | Feeding pilgrims, the poor and saints. The mela authority names food among common gifts, and free meals were served every day at Maha Kumbh 2025. |
| Vastra daan (clothes) | Giving clothes. A 2025 government feature says acts such as this hold great merit. |
| Gau daan (a cow) | The gift of a cow, named by the mela authority among gifts of great significance. |
| Dravya daan and swarn daan | Gifts of money and of gold. |
| Deep daan (lamps) | Lighted lamps offered on the river, often a wheat-flour lamp with oil and a cotton wick, floated on a vessel made of leaves. |
| Pind daan and tarpan | Offerings for ancestors. The mela authority says shraadh with pind is done by a priest, while tarpan may be done by anyone with the right mantras. |
| Veni daan | At Prayagraj, the offering of shaved hair at the Sangam, believed to be a duty of a kalpvasi at the Kumbh. |
These descriptions come from Prayagraj. Customs at Haridwar, Nashik and Ujjain, and in each family, may differ. If you are unsure what to give or how, ask a priest you trust.
Giving with care for the river and the crowd
- Lamps and flowers. Haridwar’s official guidance asks pilgrims not to throw waste, flowers, plastic or offerings directly into the river, and to choose eco-friendly options. The 2025 Prayagraj guidance said not to pollute the river with puja items. Follow the rules at your ghat.
- Food and gifts.If you want to feed people, give through an established camp or bhandara rather than handing things out into a crowd.
- Within your means. The tradition asks for daan according to your capacity. The amount is yours to decide.
A caution about collectors
Not everyone who asks in the mela’s name is genuine. Before Maha Kumbh 2025, the cyber police in Pimpri Chinchwad warned of fake websites that sought donations, as well as fake bookings, in the name of the mela, Business Today reported. In April 2025 the Home Ministry’s cybercrime centre, I4C, warned of fake booking websites, social media pages and WhatsApp accounts aimed at pilgrims, and advised checking any website before paying.
- Give in person at the counter of a temple, akhara camp, ashram or charity you can see, and ask for a receipt.
- Do not pay through a link, QR code or account sent to you on WhatsApp or social media in the name of the Kumbh.
- Be wary of strangers who approach you. Haridwar’s guidance asks pilgrims not to accept assistance from unfamiliar people, and the 2025 Prayagraj guidance said not to trust strangers.
- You can check a website on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, cybercrime.gov.in. If you are cheated, call 1930 or report there the same day.
For more on online fraud, read Kumbh scams. For the month-long vow, read kalpvas explained. Before you bathe, read the Kumbh snan guide and snan etiquette and river care.
Sources
- Rituals of Kumbh (Maha Kumbh 2025 official website) · Prayagraj Mela Authority, Government of Uttar Pradesh ·
- Social Significance (Maha Kumbh 2025 official website) · Prayagraj Mela Authority, Government of Uttar Pradesh ·
- Mahakumbh 2025: A Spectacle of Faith, Unity, and Tradition · Press Information Bureau, Government of India (Ministry of Information and Broadcasting) ·
- 45 Crore Devotees at Maha Kumbh 2025: Maha Kumbh 2025 Witnesses Record-Breaking Footfall · Press Information Bureau, Government of India (Ministry of Culture) ·
- A Hundred Million Pilgrims, One Sacred Purpose: The Maha Kumbh Experience · Press Information Bureau, Government of India (Ministry of Culture) ·
- Pilgrim Dos & Don'ts: Haridwar Kumbh 2027 (official website) · Haridwar Kumbh Mela administration, Government of Uttarakhand ·
- Do's and Don'ts: Maha Kumbh 2025 · Prayagraj Mela Authority, Government of Uttar Pradesh ·
- Managing Crowd at Events and Venues of Mass Gathering: A Guide for State Government, Local Authorities, Administrators and Organizers · National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Government of India ·
- Mahakumbh mela 2025: How to save yourself from scams during online bookings, transactions · Business Today ·
- I4C alerts public about online booking scams impersonating religious institutions and tourist services · Press Information Bureau, Government of India (Ministry of Home Affairs) ·
- Cyber Crimes Through Fake Sites · Press Information Bureau, Government of India (Ministry of Home Affairs) ·
