The Maha Kumbh Mela festival, held every 12 years in one of four locations in India, attracts a staggering 400 million Hindu pilgrims to Prayagraj. For 45 days, attendees visit the Sangam, where the Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers converge, to participate in holy baths believed to cleanse sins. This year’s festival showcases the devotion and large-scale participation of pilgrims as they engage in rituals at this sacred site, emphasizing the cultural significance of the Kumbh Mela in Hindu spirituality and community life.
As many as 400 million Hindu pilgrims are expected to visit Prayagraj, India, during this year's 45-day Maha Kumbh Mela festival.
The Kumbh Mela is held every 12 years at one of four places in India, and is considered especially auspicious.
Pilgrims flock to bathe in the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers, for purification from sin.
Gathered below are images from the first days of this year's Maha Kumbh Mela.
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