On the lines of the four major Kumbh Melas held in northern India, Kerala is set to organise one next year, a leading news daily reported. The southern state will host a Kumbh Mela for the first time in history from January 18 to February 3, 2026, at the Thirunavaya Nava Mukunda Temple in Malappuram.
The southern edition of the religious event will take place on the banks of the Bharathapuzha (Nila River), The New Indian Express said in a report. Juna Akhara (also called Juna Akhada), one of the largest and oldest Shaivite monastic orders in the Hindu tradition, will oversee the Mela, the report added.
The akhara is planning to reach out to the Malabar and Travancore Devaswom Boards, seeking their cooperation for the Mela.
A historically significant temple
Listed among the largest religious gatherings in the world, it rotates among the four holy places of Haridwar (Uttarakhand), Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh), Nashik (Maharashtra) and Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh).
Thirunavaya is historically significant as it was the venue where the Mamankam festival was held. The festival was held on the sandy plains of Bharathapuzha, close to the Nava Mukunda Temple. Like the Kumbh Mela, Mamankam was also held once in 12 years.
In 2016, the main priest of Thirunavaya temple started river worship rituals at the bank of Bharathapuzha, beginning the revival of Maha Makham, TNIE said. The Juna akhara will hold a Maha Makham in 2028 to mark the completion of the 12-year cycle. The 2026 Kumbh Mela in Thirunavaya, however, is being organised as a separate event. They are expecting the arrival of seers from other akharas as well as members of ashrams across Kerala.
