Prayagraj · Magh Mela, every January
Magh Mela 2027: Dates and Bathing Days
Magh Mela 2027 at the Sangam in Prayagraj is expected from Friday 15 January (Makar Sankranti) to Saturday 6 March 2027 (Mahashivratri): 51 days, counting both ends, with six main bathing days. The mela authority has not yet published its list for 2027.
Magh Mela kab hai? 15 January se 6 March 2027 tak, Sangam, Prayagraj mein.
This is the yearly Magh Mela, not a Kumbh. Prayagraj's last Kumbh was the Maha Kumbh, from 13 January to 26 February 2025. Its next Ardh Kumbh is expected in 2031.
Magh Mela 2027 bathing days
Expected dates from the Hindu calendar. Each day stays Expected until the mela authority lists it.
| Date | Bathing day | Tithi | In tradition | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday 15 January 2027 | Makar Sankranti | Pausha Shukla Saptami | The Sun enters Makara; giving (daan) begins | Expected |
| Friday 22 January 2027 | Paush Purnima | Pausha Purnima | Full moon of Paush; kalpvas begins | Expected |
| Saturday 6 February 2027 | Mauni Amavasya | Magha Amavasya | New moon of Magha; a vow of silence | Expected |
| Thursday 11 February 2027 | Basant Panchami | Magha Shukla Panchami | Spring and Saraswati; kalpvasis wear yellow | Expected |
| Saturday 20 February 2027 | Maghi Purnima | Magha Shukla Chaturdashi at sunrise; the Purnima begins later in the day | Full moon of Magha; kalpvas ends | Expected |
| Saturday 6 March 2027 | Mahashivratri | Mahashivratri, kept on the night of Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi | The night of Shiva; the last main bath | Expected |
For the dates with their sources, and why 2027 is not a Kumbh year, see Magh Mela 2027 dates.
Start and end at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Starts | Friday 15 January 2027, Makar Sankranti, the first main bath (expected) |
| Ends | Saturday 6 March 2027, Mahashivratri, the last main bath (expected) |
| Length | 51 days, counting both ends |
| Main bathing days | Six: 15 January, 22 January, 6 February, 11 February, 20 February and 6 March |
| Kalpvas, by tradition | Friday 22 January to Saturday 20 February 2027 (about kalpvas) |
| Place | The Sangam, Prayagraj |
| Status | Expected from the Hindu calendar; not yet listed by the Prayagraj Mela Authority |
Why people give different start dates
Three start dates are in circulation for 2027. They come from two different questions: when is the first bath, and when does the month by the river begin.
- 15 January: Makar Sankranti. The first main bath by the calendar. The Sun enters Makara a little after 9 pm on 14 January, after sunset, and panchangs such as Drik Panchang then move the festival’s punya kaal to sunrise on the 15th. The Makar Sankranti page explains this in full.
- 14 January: the day of the Sun’s entry. Some lists use it. Amar Ujala’s report of the mela administration’s first planning meeting gave the mela as 52 days from 14 January, with Makar Sankranti on 14 or 15 January, and Haridwar’s official list uses 14 January for its own Makar Sankranti bath.
- 22 January: Paush Purnima. The Prayagraj Mela Authority calls Paush Purnima the unofficial opening of the mela and the start of kalpvas, so people who count the mela by kalpvas start here.
The order changes from year to year, because Makar Sankranti follows the Sun and Paush Purnima follows the Moon. In 2026 the Magh Mela opened with the Paush Purnima bath on 3 January, All India Radio reported. In 2027, as at the 2019 Kumbh, Makar Sankranti comes first: in 2019 it fell on 15 January and Paush Purnima on 21 January, according to PIB.
The end date is not in dispute. Every source we checked ends the season with Mahashivratri on 6 March 2027.
How long Magh Mela 2027 lasts
From Friday 15 January to Saturday 6 March 2027 is 51 days, counting both ends; counted from 14 January, as in the planning meeting report, it is 52. The Prayagraj district describes the Magh Mela’s important bathing dates as spread over about 45 days, beginning with Makar Sankranti.
The length changes with the calendar. All India Radio called the 2026 mela, which ran from Paush Purnima on 3 January to Mahashivratri, a 43-day mela.
Kalpvas is shorter than the mela. By tradition it runs for a month, from Paush Purnima to Maghi Purnima: Friday 22 January to Saturday 20 February 2027 by the calendar. Read kalpvas at the Magh Mela.
January: Makar Sankranti and Paush Purnima
Makar Sankranti, Friday 15 January 2027
What it means: Makar Sankranti marks the Sun’s move into Makara (Capricorn). The Prayagraj Mela Authority describes it as the day when charitable giving (daan) begins at the mela, with pilgrims giving as much as they wish.
Why 15 January: by the calendar, the Sun enters Makara on the night of 14 January 2027, so the festival is kept on Friday 15 January. Haridwar’s Kumbh website lists 14 January for its first bathing day. Check the Prayagraj list when it is published.
Paush Purnima, Friday 22 January 2027
What it means: the full moon of the month of Paush. The mela authority calls it the unofficial opening of the mela and the start of kalpvas.
According to tradition, kalpvasis then live in tents near the Sangam for a month, until Maghi Purnima, keeping a simple life with vows of celibacy and daily prayer. In 2027 Makar Sankranti comes a week before Paush Purnima, so the mela’s first bath falls before kalpvas begins.
February: Mauni Amavasya and Basant Panchami
Mauni Amavasya, Saturday 6 February 2027
What it means: the new moon of Magha. Maun means silence, and by tradition sadhus, saints and kalpvasis keep a vow of silence on this day, as a way to turn the mind inward.
The mela authority says it is believed that the planets are most favourable for a river bath on this day. It also links the day with Rishabh Dev, whom it calls one of the first sages, who is said to have ended a long vow of silence by bathing at the Sangam. The mela authority treats Mauni Amavasya as the main bathing day of the season; follow police and mela instructions on the day.
Basant Panchami, Thursday 11 February 2027
What it means: the fifth day of the bright half of Magha. In tradition it marks the turn of the season towards spring and honours Saraswati, goddess of knowledge. It is kept across India as Saraswati Puja.
The mela authority says kalpvasis dress in yellow to mark the day. At Prayagraj the name Saraswati also belongs to the unseen river that, according to tradition, joins the Ganga and the Yamuna at the Sangam. Read the Sangam guide.
Late February and March: Maghi Purnima and Mahashivratri
Maghi Purnima, Saturday 20 February 2027
What it means: the full moon of Magha. The mela authority links it with the worship of Guru Brihaspati and with the belief that the Gandharvas of Hindu mythology come down to the Sangam on this day. By tradition it is also the last day of kalpvas, a month after Paush Purnima.
A note on the tithi: at sunrise on 20 February 2027 the tithi is still Shukla Chaturdashi; the Purnima begins later in the day. Go by the date the mela authority lists.
Mahashivratri, Saturday 6 March 2027
What it means: the great night of Shiva, kept on the night of Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi. The mela authority links it with Lord Shankar (Shiva) and calls it the final holy bath of the kalpvasis, although by tradition the month of kalpvas itself ends on Maghi Purnima. It is the last of the six main bathing days.
The same day is also expected to be the first Amrit Snan of Haridwar Kumbh 2027.
How the six days fit together
- Kalpvas sits in the middle. By tradition it runs from Paush Purnima to Maghi Purnima: Friday 22 January to Saturday 20 February 2027.
- Four days are shared with Haridwar. 6 February, 11 February, 20 February and 6 March are also bathing days of Haridwar Kumbh 2027.
- This is not a Kumbh. The Magh Mela is held at the Sangam every year. Prayagraj’s next Ardh Kumbh is expected in 2031.
- Main bathing days usually draw the most pilgrims. Follow police and mela instructions on the day, and read the Kumbh snan guide before your first river bath.
To plan the journey and a place to stay, read how to reach Prayagraj and where to stay for Magh Mela 2027.
What is the Magh Mela?
The Magh Mela is a yearly gathering of pilgrims at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, where the Ganga and Yamuna meet and, in tradition, the unseen Saraswati. It is held in the Hindu month of Magh, roughly mid-January to mid-February, and its bathing days are spread over about 45 days.
Every year the Uttar Pradesh government builds a temporary tent township on the mela ground, with roads, transport, water, electricity, sanitation, medical care and police. According to the district, every twelfth year the Magh Mela becomes the Kumbh Mela.
The first bathing day changes with the calendar. In 2026 the mela began with Paush Purnima on 3 January and had six main bathing days, ending with Mahashivratri. In 2027 Makar Sankranti (15 January) comes before Paush Purnima (22 January).
For the Sangam, its temples and its history, read our Prayagraj Kumbh guide.
Kalpvas: a month by the river
According to tradition, kalpvas begins on Paush Purnima and lasts a month, until Maghi Purnima. Kalpvasis live in tents near the Sangam, keep a simple and disciplined life with vows of celibacy and daily prayer, and bathe in the river.
By the calendar, that would be from Friday 22 January to Saturday 20 February 2027.
Camp and land arrangements for kalpvasis in 2027 have not been announced. We will add them, with their source, when the mela authority publishes them.
Is there a Kumbh at Prayagraj in 2027?
- No. 2027 has the yearly Magh Mela at the Sangam, not a Kumbh.
- Prayagraj’s last Kumbh was the Maha Kumbh 2025, held from 13 January to 26 February 2025.
- The next Ardh Kumbh at Prayagraj is expected in 2031, about six years after the 2025 Maha Kumbh. Its dates have not been announced.
- The Kumbhs in 2027 are at Haridwar (14 January to 20 April 2027) and Nashik and Trimbakeshwar (main bathing days in August and September 2027).
- If a tour is sold as “Prayagraj Kumbh 2027”, it is really the Magh Mela, or the seller has the year wrong. Read how to check a Kumbh booking.
See every upcoming Kumbh on the next Kumbh Mela page and read what Kumbh, Ardh Kumbh and Maha Kumbh mean.
What has been announced so far
What we found when we checked on 18 October 2026.
- Prayagraj Mela Authority: no published list of 2027 bathing days. The authority, set up under a 2017 Uttar Pradesh law, organises the Magh Mela as well as the Kumbh. Its website, kumbh.gov.in, still showed the 2025 Maha Kumbh and had no Magh Mela 2027 section, and the Prayagraj district website had no Magh Mela 2027 page.
- Government of India: the Incredible India listing of the Ministry of Tourism, credited to Uttar Pradesh Tourism, gives Magh Mela 2027 as 15 January to 6 March 2027. We found no PIB release on the 2027 dates.
- Mela administration planning (27 August 2026): Amar Ujala reported the first meeting on preparations, chaired by the Divisional Commissioner and the Police Commissioner at the Mela Authority office. Its report gives the mela as 52 days, 14 January to 6 March 2027, with Makar Sankranti on 14 or 15 January, Mauni Amavasya on 6 February, Maghi Purnima on 20 February and Mahashivratri on 6 March, and says the mela area will grow from 844 hectares to 900 to 925 hectares, in eight sectors instead of seven.
- Railways (8 August 2026): ETV Bharat reported that Indian Railways had begun planning for a mela from 15 January to 6 March, listing the same six bathing days as the calendar.
- Not announced yet: the formal list of bathing days, bathing times, the layout of the mela ground, camp and land arrangements, and the traffic plan.
For the six days with their tithis, see Magh Mela 2027 dates. To see what is official, provisional or expected for every Kumbh, see the date status board.
What is not announced yet
- The Prayagraj Mela Authority’s official list of 2027 bathing days.
- Bathing times (muhurat) for each day.
- The ghats and sectors in use on each day.
- Traffic, parking and vehicle rules around each bathing day.
- Camp and land arrangements for kalpvasis.
Until the list is published, all six days stay Expected. Book only what you can cancel.
Planning a Magh Mela visit
- Wait for the mela authority’s list of bathing days before you book anything you cannot cancel.
- Some websites with “Magh Mela” in their name are private booking sites, not the government. Check who runs a site before you pay.
- On bathing days, bathe only at the ghats the police and mela staff direct you to, and follow their instructions.
- Early-morning baths in January and February are cold. Carry warm layers and a dry change of clothes. Our packing list helps.
- New to a river bath at a mela? Read the Kumbh snan guide first.
The mela ground from space
Questions people ask
When does Magh Mela 2027 start?
On Friday 15 January 2027, with the Makar Sankranti bath, by the Hindu calendar. Some lists give 14 January, and some count from Paush Purnima on 22 January, when kalpvas begins. The Prayagraj Mela Authority has not yet published its list.
When does Magh Mela 2027 end?
On Saturday 6 March 2027, with the Mahashivratri bath. Every source we checked gives this end date.
How many days is Magh Mela 2027?
51 days from 15 January to 6 March 2027, counting both ends, or 52 counted from 14 January. Kalpvas, the month by the river, runs from 22 January to 20 February by tradition.
What are the Magh Mela 2027 bathing days?
Six main days are expected: Makar Sankranti (Friday 15 January), Paush Purnima (Friday 22 January), Mauni Amavasya (Saturday 6 February), Basant Panchami (Thursday 11 February), Maghi Purnima (Saturday 20 February) and Mahashivratri (Saturday 6 March 2027). The mela authority has not yet published its list.
Why is Makar Sankranti on 15 January in 2027?
By the calendar, the Sun enters Makara on the night of 14 January 2027, so the festival is kept on Friday 15 January. Haridwar lists 14 January. Check the Prayagraj list when it is published.
When is Mauni Amavasya 2027?
Saturday 6 February 2027, by the Hindu calendar (Magha Amavasya). It is marked Expected until the mela authority lists it.
Is Magh Mela 2027 a Kumbh Mela?
No. The Magh Mela is held at the Sangam every year. Prayagraj’s last Kumbh was the Maha Kumbh, 13 January to 26 February 2025, and its next Ardh Kumbh is expected in 2031.
When does kalpvas start in 2027?
According to tradition, kalpvas runs from Paush Purnima to Maghi Purnima. By the calendar, that is Friday 22 January to Saturday 20 February 2027.
Has the government announced the Magh Mela 2027 dates?
Not as a published list. On 18 October 2026 we found no list from the Prayagraj Mela Authority. A Government of India tourism listing gives 15 January to 6 March 2027, and a newspaper report of the mela administration’s first planning meeting gives 14 January to 6 March 2027.