World’s biggest religious festival begins in India happymamay

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Ankit Srinivas devotees perform fire rituals while entering the festivalAnkit Srinivas

The Mahakumbh Mela is held in the northern city of Prayagraj

Millions of people gather in the city of Prayagraj in northern India in the state of Uttar Pradesh to participate in Mahakumbh MelaThe largest humanitarian gathering in the world.

Devout Hindus from around the world have arrived here (and will continue to do so) over the course of six weeks to take a holy dip in the Sangam – the confluence of India’s most sacred Ganges with the Yamuna and the legendary Saraswati.

Hindus believe that swimming in holy water cleanses people of sins.

Authorities have set up a sprawling tent city spanning 4,000 hectares of open land along the riverbanks to accommodate the visitors, who arrive at the grounds in large, colorful processions, singing and dancing along the way.

Photojournalist Ankit Srinivas brings you some scenes from the festival:

Holy men smeared with ashes dance and enter the festival

About 400 million pilgrims are expected to attend this 45-day spectacle

Ankit Srinivas Two pilgrims walk to the festivalAnkit Srinivas

Pilgrims from all over the country reached Prayagraj to attend the event

Ankit Srinivas A group of Hindu holy men smeared with ash perform rituals at MahakumbhAnkit Srinivas

A group of pilgrims smeared with ash perform rituals at the Kumbh

Ankit Srinivas A group of men dressed in saffron clothes walking on the festival groundsAnkit Srinivas

Devotees will bathe in the Sangam – the confluence of India’s most sacred Ganges River with the Yamuna River and the legendary Saraswati River.

Devotees on Maha Kumbh

Devotees brave the icy temperatures to participate in the festival

Ankit Srinivas gathers thousands of pilgrims on the banks of the riverAnkit Srinivas

Kumbh is the largest religious gathering in the world

Ankit Srinivas Aerial night view of the sprawling festivalAnkit Srinivas

A vast tent city extending over 4,000 hectares has been set up on the banks of the river

Ankit Srinivas Aerial view of river banks Ankit Srinivas

Construction of the tent city began in September last year

Ankit Srinivas is a holy man staring into the cameraAnkit Srinivas

The festival concludes on February 26

Ankit Srinivas is another holy man arriving in his old ornate red carAnkit Srinivas

Many Hindu holy men will stay in the festival for 45 days

Ankit Srinivas Dozens of holy men walk in procession at the festivalAnkit Srinivas

The main attraction of the Kumbh are the naked Naga sadhus, or ascetics who throw themselves into the icy waters of the river

Kumbh Mela
Asia
India

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