Nearly 15 million Hindus, six times the number expected, took a dip in freezing waters seeking absolution of their sins on Monday, the first day of India's festival that could draw the world's largest single gathering of humanity.

In today's episode of India Global, the Maha Kumbh Mela began at Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj this morning, with more than 50 lakh people taking the first holy dip at Sangam, the point where the Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers meet.

The Maha Kumbh Mela has officially started in India, drawing millions of devotees to the holy city of Prayagraj for a 45-day festival of spiritual significance and extraordinary scale. View on euronew

The Maha Kumbh Mela has commenced in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj on. The 45-day religious gathering is significant for Hindu pilgrims and devotees as the event marks the completion of 12 Kumbh Mela cycles,

Held every 12 years, 2025's Maha Kumbh mela has seen the construction of 400km of temporary roads, a 10,000-acre pop-up tent city, 150,000 toilets, three hospitals and more.

The Maha Kumbh Mela, or the Great Pitcher Festival, will bring more than 400 million people to Prayagraj city in northern India over a period of six weeks starting Monday, making it the largest gathering of humanity in the world.

Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest gathering, begins in India as millions bathe in the Ganges to seek spiritual salvation.

India began yesterday its Maha Kumbh Mela, or Great Pitcher Festival, which is expected to draw more than 400 million visitors to the northern city

Vast crowds of Hindu pilgrims in India began bathing in sacred waters on Monday as the Kumbh Mela festival opened, with organisers expecting 400 million people — the largest gathering

More than 400 million Hindu pilgrims are expected to take part in the biggest gathering of humanity in history - India's Maha Kumbh Mela religious festival. DW follows one couple’s spiritual journey to wash away their sins in the river Ganges.