Shipra River

A puja performed on the banks of the overflowing Shipra River in Ujjain during the summer monsoon.

The Shipra, also known as the Kshipra, is a river in Madhya Pradesh state of central India. The river rises in the kakri bardi hiils Vindhya Range north of Dhar, and flows south across the Malwa Plateau to join the Chambal River. It is one of the sacred rivers in Hinduism. The holy city of Ujjain is situated on its right bank. Every 12 years, the Kumbh Mela festival takes place on the city's elaborate riverside ghats, as do yearly celebrations of the river goddess Kshipra.There are hundreds of Hindu shrines along the banks of the river Shipra. Shipra is a perennial river. Earlier there used to be plenty of water in the river. Now the river stops flowing after a couple of months after the monsoon.

With this reference, the word Shipra is used as a symbol of "purity" (of soul, emotions, body, etc.) or "chastity" or "clarity".

The banks of the Shipra river is one of the 4 places where the Khumba Mela is held.