Sacred Indian festival of Kumbh Mela

Last week one of the sacred places of north India began a religious Hindu festival Kumbh Mela, which will last for a month and is expected to attract some 10 million people. Men, women and children entered the fast-flowing waters of the Ganges in the holy ritual, part of the Kumbh Mela festival, which is considered the largest religious gathering in the world.

23 photos via bigpicture

1. Hindu ritual performed at Sangam - the confluence of the Ganges and the Yamuna - during the festival Makar Sankranti in Allahabad, India, Jan. 14. Hundreds of thousands of the faithful bathe in the river during astrologically favorable period of 30 days to wash away sins and receive prosperity. Makar Sankranti While there are plenty of molasses, or fairs, the most famous of which is the Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years in one of the sacred places.





2. Naga Sadhu dry their clothes after bathing in the Ganges River during the annual fair of Magh Mela in Allahabad



3. Indian priest during the evening prayers on the banks of the Ganges river during Makar Sankranti in - one of the main bathing days Kumbh Mela - January 14 in Haridwar.



4. The family prays while bathing in the Ganges on the first day of the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar



5. Hindus bathe in the Ganges River on the first day of the festival



6. Hindus pray while bathing in the Ganges River on the first day of the festival Kumbh Mela in Haridwar



7. Indian Sikh washes during a ritual bath on the occasion of Magh Mela at the Golden Temple in Amritsar



8. Indian believers gathered to bathe in the sacred waters of Sangam - the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati



9. Sadhu during ritual bathing in Sangam - the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical river Sarasvari - during the festival of Makar Sankranti on an annual traditional fair of Magh Mela in Allahabad



10. Sadhu praying while bathing in the Ganges River on the first day of the festival



11. The pilgrims come to bathe in the sacred waters of the Ganges River in the first day of the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar



12. Hindus gathered for holy bathing in Sangam - the confluence of the Ganges and the Yamuna - during the festival Makar Sankranti in Allahabad



13. Indian believers bathe and pray after the solar eclipse on the banks of the Ganges River



14. Hindu bathe and pray after the solar eclipse on the river Ganges in Haridwar January 15



15. Brahmin comes out of the river after swimming in the auspicious day of the fair Kumbh on the banks of the Ganges River



16. Indian believers pray in Sangam - the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical river Saravasi an auspicious day for Hindus, drop down to the traditional annual fair of Magh Mela



17. People bathe and pray for an auspicious day festival



18. Indians drink tea to warm up on the river Ganges in Haridwar January 16 during the festival of Kumbh Mela



19. Indian believers share a common feast on the banks of the Ganges River



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21. Pilgrims flooded the railway station in Prayaga



22. Sadhu - Hindu-righteous - performing religious rituals on the banks of the Ganges and Yamuna



23. Indian pilgrim prays in the sacred waters of the Sangam



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