The first documented Kumbh Mela fair, also known as a Maha Kumbh Mela, was held in 1870 in Allahabad, under British supervision. This fair was a large gathering of people, including sadhus, and it was used to galvanize support for the freedom movement. While the tradition of fairs on the banks of sacred rivers is ancient, the specific Kumbh Mela format, as we know it today, was likely established after the 12th century, potentially during the Bhakti movement.