What is it?

• Kumbh Mela is a major pilgrimage and festival in Hinduism. 
• It is celebrated in a cycle of approximately 12 years, at four river-bank pilgrimage sites: the Prayagraj/Allahabad (Ganges-Yamuna-Sarasvati rivers confluence), Haridwar (Ganges), Nashik (Godavari), and Ujjain (Shipra). The confluence is referred to as the ‘Sangam‘.
• It is the largest peaceful congregation of pilgrims on earth.

Types of Kumbh Mela and its Occurrence

1. Kumbha Mela – held at all four places every 3 years
2. Ardha Kumbha Mela – held at Haridwar and Allahabad every 6 years
3. Purna Kumbha Mela – held only at Allahabad every 12 years
4. Maha Kumbha Mela – held only at Allahabad every 144 years

• It comes under UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

What is UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity?

• UNESCO established its Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage with the aim of ensuring better protection of important intangible cultural heritages worldwide and the awareness of their significance. 
• This list is published by the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The list was established in 2008 when the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage took effect.
• From India, the Intangible Cultural Heritages added into this list are:

1. Tradition of Vedic chanting
2. Ramlila, the traditional performance of the Ramayana
3. Kutiyattam, Sanskrit theatre
4. Ramman, religious festival and ritual theatre of the Garhwal Himalayas.
5. Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance drama of Kerala
6. Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan
7. Chhau dance
8. Buddhist chanting of Ladakh: recitation of sacred Buddhist texts in the trans-Himalayan Ladakh region, Jammu and Kashmir.
9. Sankirtana, ritual singing, drumming and dancing of Manipur
10. Traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making among the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru, Punjab
11. Yoga
12. Nawrouz
13. Kumbh Mela

Why in News?

• The Prime Minister seeks curtailment of Kumbh Mela amid surge in COVID-19 cases.