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The biggest gathering in the history of mankind (estimated to be as high as 70 million Hindus), will gather to bathe where the three greatest rivers in India merge - the Ganges, the Jamuna and the mythical Saraswati.
The Maha Kumbh Mela is the most spiritual festival in Hinduism and Channel 4 make TV history with the month-long coverage throughout January from this visually spectacular festival in India.
Cameras will follow the characters who have made it happen, the gurus who have travelled hundreds of miles to be there and the astrologers, the tourists, the politicians and the devotees who all want to be part of the greatest show on earth.
Held every twelve years, when the planets align to make it an especially auspicious time, in February 1989 on the main day of the festival, seven million people leapt into the River Ganges at the same time.
The government is predicting 70 million pilgrims will attend - more than 300 times bigger than the Glastonbury Festival.
Channel 4 coverage will explain the significance of the Kumbh and introduce some of the characters involved.
First off is Jivesh Nandan, the man in charge of the whole event, and whose responsibility it is to turn a dry river bed into a city for 70 million pilgrims in under three months. Channel 4 follows him as he oversees the construction of 15 pontoon bridges, 61 roads, 28 police stations and 30 hospitals!
Not forgetting 250 kilometres of water pipes and 75,000 toilets.
It's a tough job - but somebody's got to do it!

Alok Sharma, the Chief of Police for this massive event, has to transform his 18,000 strong team of constables into caring pilgrim guides. His major headache will be crowd control, but he also has to be prepared to deal with the thousands of people who get seperated from their families at the Kumbh.

Coverage of the Maha Kumbh Mela is not to be missed!

Maybe someone will write and tell us if they were among the millions.

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