India’s Maha Kumbh Mela festival kicked off on Monday in Prayagraj, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.
Kumbh Mela is a Hindu pilgrimage held every 12 years, and is the world’s largest religious gathering, with 400 million people expected to attend the event which will continue until February 26.
Devotees arrive at Sangam on the first day of Maha Kumbh Mela 2025
For the first day of the 45 day-long festivity, more than 10 million of devotees have already gathered on the banks of the Ganges to pray and take a holy bath.
Colorful prayers
This years’ festival marks the completion of 12 Kumbh Mela cycles, occurring every 144 years, and a special celestial alignment of the sun, moon and Jupiter. This is is why it is called Maha or grand.
A Naga sadhu sits in his camp ahead of the festival
During Kumbh Mela pilgrimage, Naga sadhu, ascetics from various akharas, or monastic orders, also gather and bathe. They are easily reccognizable by their naked bodies, often covered in ash and marigold chains, and matted dreadlocks. Their bathing, which will occur on the 14 and 29 of January, and 3 of February, is a very particularly popular event.
Taking a holy bath to wash off sins
Six particularly auspicious days to bathe have been decided by astrologers, based on the alignment of specific planets and constellations:
* 13 January
* 14 January
* 29 January
* 3 February
* 12 February
* 26 February
Peshwai Procession,marking the beginning of preparations for Maha Kumbh Mela
Sadhus take part in Peshwai procession of Shri ‘Panchayati Akhada Bada Udasin Nirwan’ ahead of Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, in Prayagraj on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025.
A holy man blows a conch shell to signal the start of the spiritual ceremony
This year’s Kumbh Mela festival is held at Sangam – the confluence of India’s most sacred Ganges river with the Yamuna river and the mythical Saraswati.
Warming up after a holy bath
The largest crowd for Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 is expected on 29 January with 50 to 60 million devotees bathing to cleanse their souls.
Burning sandalwood during Ganga Aarti
A Priest along with devotees performs Ganga aarti, a religious ceremony that gives praise to the River Goddess Ganga, at Sangam after taking a holy dip on the first day of Maha Kumbh Mela 2025,
