India, a land of rich traditions and spirituality, is home to numerous festivals that hold deep cultural and religious significance. While many festivals occur annually, some are celebrated only after specific intervals of years, making them even more special and eagerly awaited. These rare events bring together millions of devotees, creating an aura of divinity and grandeur. Let’s explore some of these extraordinary festivals that follow a unique cycle of celebration.
1. Athi Varadar Festival: The 40-Year Phenomenon
Athi Varadar is a rare and grand event celebrated once every 40 years at the Varadaraja Perumal Temple in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu. The festival revolves around the idol of Lord Athi Varadar, which remains submerged in the temple’s temple tank, Anantha Sarovaram, and is taken out for worship only once in four decades. Devotees throng the temple to seek blessings, as it is believed that darshan of Athi Varadar during this time grants immense prosperity and well-being.
2. Kumbh Mela: The 12-Year Celestial Gathering
Kumbh Mela is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, celebrated every 12 years at four sacred locations: Prayagraj (Allahabad), Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik. The festival is based on celestial alignments and marks the occasion when the sacred nectar (Amrita) fell at these four places. Millions of devotees, saints, and ascetics gather to take a holy dip in the sacred rivers, believing it cleanses them of sins and leads to moksha (liberation).
3. Pushkaram: The 12-Year River Festival
Pushkaram is a unique festival dedicated to the worship of sacred rivers in India, celebrated every 12 years. Each river is associated with a specific zodiac sign, and when Jupiter enters that sign, the Pushkaram festival for the corresponding river takes place. The most prominent among them is the Godavari Pushkaram. Devotees take holy dips in the river, perform rituals, and offer prayers to ancestors, believing it purifies their souls.
4. Purna Kumbha Mela: The 144-Year Grand Confluence
The Purna Kumbha Mela, also known as the Maha Kumbh, is an extremely rare and grand event that occurs once in 144 years at Prayagraj. It is considered the ultimate spiritual gathering where millions of devotees take a dip in the sacred Sangam (confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers). This festival is believed to be the most auspicious time for spiritual awakening and salvation.
5. Nabakalebara: The 12-Year Rebirth of Deities
Nabakalebara is a significant ritual held approximately every 12 to 19 years at the Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha. During this festival, the wooden idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra are replaced with newly carved ones from sacred neem trees. The old deities are buried in a ritualistic manner. This festival represents the cycle of rebirth and is considered one of the most sacred events in Jagannath worship.
6. Lakshadeepam: The Six-Year Illuminated Festival
Lakshadeepam, meaning ‘one lakh lamps,’ is a spectacular festival celebrated once in six years at the Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The entire temple premises are illuminated with thousands of oil lamps, creating a mesmerizing spiritual ambiance. The festival marks the conclusion of the Murajapam (chanting of Vedic hymns) ritual, which lasts for 56 days. Devotees believe that witnessing the grand lighting brings immense spiritual blessings.
7. Maha Magam Festival in Kumbakonam
The Mahamaham Festival is a significant Hindu event held every 12 years in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, attracting millions of devotees. Celebrated in the Tamil month of Masi (February–March), it is considered as sacred in South India as the Kumbh Mela. The festival centers around the Mahamaham Tank, a vast temple tank spanning approximately 20 acres, surrounded by 16 shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva. According to Hindu mythology, after a cosmic deluge, Lord Shiva broke a divine pot (kumbha) at Kumbakonam, dispersing its contents to sanctify the land. During Mahamaham, it is believed that sacred rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati converge in the tank, offering devotees a chance to cleanse their sins by taking a holy dip. The festival's rituals include flag-hoisting ceremonies, processions of deities, and various cultural events, transforming Kumbakonam into a vibrant hub of spirituality and tradition.