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.

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.

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

Tens of thousands of Hindus seeking absolution of their sins immersed themselves on Monday in freezing waters at the confluence of sacred rivers, as India began a six-week festival expected to draw the world's largest gathering of humanity.

the 45-day event features sacred baths, religious ceremonies, and technological innovations to ensure safety and convenience.

Maha Kumbh Mela or Great Pitcher Festival begins in India on Monday, a Hindu sacred event that will be the world's largest gathering of humanity as it showcases religion, spirituality, tourism and crowd management.

The Hindu festival of Kumbh Mela, the largest human gathering on the planet, began on Monday in northern India with a saffron tide of pilgrims flocking to the confluence of the sacred Ganges, Yamuna and Sarasvati rivers to bathe in the waters.

Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 begins with 70 lakh devotees taking a holy dip in Prayagraj, marking a significant spiritual event.- Watch Video on English Oneindia

Millions of Hindus have arrived at Prayagraj in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh for the Maha Kumbh Mela, touted as one of the largest religious gatherings in the world. Over the next three weeks,