The Kumbh Mela in Allahabad may well be the holiest destination for sadhus and religious devotees, but this year, celebrities from India and across the globe are landing up at the event like they’ve never done before.

Actor Shilpa Shetty was the first among the Bollywood brigade to visit Kumbh.En route 2 the KUMBH MELA,Allahabad. With my parents,thanks 2 dearest Gopi (Hinduja) uncle,who made my moms dream possible… Long but fruitful day, Shilpa tweeted. 

Also spotted was comedian Rajpal Yadav, performing a puja on the ghats of the Ganges.

Reports also suggest that actors Amitabh Bachchan and Akshay Kumar, along with his wife Twinkle Khanna, will also be visiting the Kumbh Mela. And it’s not just Bollywood that’s queuing up. Reports suggest that apart from spiritual leader Dalai Lama, Hollywood actors Richard Gere and Catherine Zeta Jones may be joining in, too. Zeta Jones was quoted saying in an interview,I really want to visit India again specifically during the Kumbh Mela pilgrimage and I’m told it is a sight to behold for the eyes and soul. Meanwhile, actor Ranvir Shorey has urged pilgrims to be environment-conscious: It would be a good idea to ask everyone at the Kumbh Mela to return the favour and clean up the Ganges, he tweeted. It’s not just celebs who are jazzing up Kumbh — gadget-totting sadhus are only adding more style to the traditional gathering.

Bollywood’s Kumbh Mela dialogues
Yeh bahut dukh bhari kahani hai bhaiya. Ek bar Kumbh ka mela laga hua tha. Main aur mera judwa bhai Sohan, main Mohan, wo baye tha main daye tha. Beech mein mera baap tha... -Johny Lever in Soldier (1998)

Bollywood’s most common Kumbh dialogue - Aaj se theek bees saal pehle hum Kumbh ke mele mein bichhad gaye...