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Pilgrims come to bathe at Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the legendary Saraswati River.
A naga sadhu, or Hindu living saint, is dancing naked in a procession towards Sangam.
Sadhus cover themselves with ash. According to statistics, around 150 million people participate in this traditional festival, including about 1 million tourists.
Yogi Adityanath, the leader of Uttar Pradesh, is responsible for overseeing this major festival. He said that approximately 22.5 million Hindus participated in the water ceremony on the first day of the Kumbh Mela.
A sadhu smokes in his tent. Many naga sadhus, or ascetic monks who worship Shiva, are under the care of monasteries, and some live in remote caves.
The Melumb Kumbh lasts 45 days. Millions of visitors believe that immersing themselves in the sacred waters will cleanse their sins.
Images of worshippers seen from above.
A massive tent spanning 45 square kilometers was erected along the riverbank to accommodate pilgrims.
Nearly 30,000 police officers were deployed to monitor the crowds and prevent stampedes, similar to those that had occurred previously.
The festival attracts an incredible number of visitors, far surpassing the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca or any other large-scale gathering. Organizers say the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, in 2013, attracted 120 million people – almost the population of Japan.
Followers of Shri Panchayati Naya Udasin Akhada bathe their deity according to ritual.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who leads the Bharatiya Janata Party, the ruling party of the state, sees the success of the festival as a way to strengthen and protect the Hindu faith.
Sadhus participate in a procession before going to Sangnam for purification.
A female Sadhu participates in the water immersion ritual.
Transgender devotees Kinnar Akhara take their first bath at Kumbh Mela. The LGBT community still faces prejudice in a country with such deep religious roots as India.
Nga Nguyen
- Source: The Guardian
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