Maha Kumbh Mela festival: The largest gathering of people for a religious purpose in the world

kumbh_mela_ 5
Hindu devotees bathe in the waters of the holy Ganges river during the auspicious royal bathing day of Makar Sankranti, on January 14, 2013 in Allahabad, India.

Maha Kumbh Festival 2013 is speculated to be one of the biggest congregations in the history of mankind. Last Maha Kumbh witnessed the participation of 70 million people.

Mela is the greatest pilgrimage and festival in the Hindu religion. The event is a religious and cultural spectacle which occurs once in 12 years attracting participants from around the globe to take a dip in the holy waters of Ganga, Yamuna and the mystical Saraswati. The  highlight feature of the Kumbh Mela is the bathing ceremony (snan).

In 2013 from 27th January to 25th February the Purna Kumbh Mela will be going held in Allahabad, India.

Maha Kumbh Mela

 

Maha Kumbh Mela
A Sadhu comes up after dipping in the waters of the Sangham in Allahabad, on January 14, 2013.A Sadhu comes up after dipping in the waters of the Sangham in Allahabad, on January 14, 2013.
Maha Kumbh Mela
A man, dressed as Hindu Goddess Kali, participates in a religious procession towards the Sangam, in Allahabad
Maha Kumbh Mela
A member of a brass band waits for a religious procession to start towards the Sangam, in Allahabad
Maha Kumbh Mela
Hindu devotees bathe in the waters of the holy Ganges river during the auspicious royal bathing day of Makar Sankranti, on January 14, 2013 in Allahabad, India.
Maha Kumbh Mela
Millions of Hindu devotees gather early morning at Sangam, on one of the most auspicious days, Makar Sankranti, the first the day of the Maha Kumbh Mela, in Allahabad, on January 14, 2013.
Maha Kumbh Mela
Indian Hindu devotees pray at Sangam, at the start of the Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, on January 14, 2013.
Maha Kumbh Mela
Hindu devotees bathe in the waters of the holy Ganges river during the Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, on January 14, 2013.Hindu devotees bathe in the waters of the holy Ganges river during the Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, on January 14, 2013.
Maha Kumbh Mela
Security members rescue an Indian holy man stuck in the mid flow of the River Ganges at Sangam, in Allahabad
Maha Kumbh Mela
A candle burns on an offering floating down stream at the Sangham or confluence of the Yamuna and Ganges river, at day break at the Kumbh Mela celebration in Allahabad
Maha Kumbh Mela
Thousands of foreigners are also expected to attend the festival.
Maha Kumbh Mela
Boatmen wait for passengers ahead of the Kumbh Mela at Sangam in Allahabad on January 12, 2013. The Kumbh Mela, which is scheduled to take place in the northern Indian city in January and February 2013, is the world’s largest gathering of people for a religious purpose and millions of people gather for this auspicious occasion.
Maha Kumbh Mela
A boy reacts to other devotees from his family pour water over his head.
Maha Kumbh Mela
Devotees light a candle on an offering at the waters edge.
Maha Kumbh Mela
A Hindu holy man, or naga sadhu, prays as he bathes in the waters of the holy Ganges river during the auspicious bathing day of Makar Sankranti of the Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, India, on January 14, 2013. The Maha Kumbh Mela, believed to be the largest religious gathering on earth is held every 12 years on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of the holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati. The festival is expected to attract over 100 million people.
Maha Kumbh Mela
An ash smeared Hindu Sadhu or holy man poses beside a tent in Allahabad
Maha Kumbh Mela
An Indian worker from the Power Department makes adjustments to electrical power lines during preparations for the Maha Kumbh festival in Allahabad
Maha Kumbh Mela
Hindu devotees cross pontoon bridges spanning the river Ganges during the first “Shahi Snan” (grand bath) at the ongoing Kumbh Mela, or Pitcher Festival, in the northern Indian city of Allahabad, on January 14, 2013.
Maha Kumbh Mela
A cyclist rides past an over bridge as a camp and festival ground is enveloped in a morning fog at Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, ahead of the Maha Kumbh festival in Allahabad
Maha Kumbh Mela
Naked Hindu holy men return to their camp after a dip at Sangam on one of the most auspicious days, Makar Sankranti, the first day of the Maha Kumbh Mela, in Allahabad, on January 14, 2013. Devotees wash themselves in the waters of the Ganges believing that it washes away their sins and ends the process of reincarnation.
Maha Kumbh Mela
A Sadhu smokes marijuana on the banks of river Ganges ahead of the Kumbh Mela Festival in the northern Indian city of Allahabad
Maha Kumbh Mela
Naga Sadhus prepare to take a holy dip during first “Shahi Snan” (grand bath) at the ongoing Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, on January 14, 2013. More than a million elated Hindu holy men and pilgrims took a bracing plunge in India’s sacred Ganges river to wash away lifetimes of sins on Monday, in a raucous start to an ever-growing religious gathering that is already the world’s largest.
Maha Kumbh Mela
Naga sadhus run in to bathe in the waters of the holy Ganges river during the auspicious bathing day of Makar Sankranti of the Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, on January 14, 2013.