25 Lakh Take Dip In Sangam Before Maha Kumbh Mela Begins In Prayagraj

India is all set to host the world's largest gathering of humanity, with over 400 million people expected to gather in the city of Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh for the Maha Kumbh Mela or Great Pitcher Festival. A sacred event for Hindus, the Maha Kumbh is set to start on Monday, with devotees from across India and beyond lining up to take a holy dip at the confluence of three sacred rivers - the Ganga, the Yamuna, and the mythical, invisible Saraswati.

During six weeks from January 13 to February 26, pilgrims will take part in elaborate rituals, prayers and religious processions with elephants, as well as horse-back parades and chariots.

The organisation of Maha Kumbh finds its roots in Hindu mythology that says lord Vishnu wrested a golden pitcher, or Kumbh, containing the nectar of immortality from demons. In a 12-day celestial fight for possession, four drops fell to earth, in the cities of Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik, which host the festival every three years by rotation.