Millions of Hindu devotees have gathered in Prayagraj, India, to begin the Maha Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest religious festival, expected to draw over 400 million people over six weeks.

Pilgrims will perform ritual baths at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers, seeking purification and liberation from rebirth.

Rooted in Hindu mythology, the festival rotates among four sacred sites every 12 years and features elaborate rituals, austerity, and almsgiving, the Associated Press has reported.

Authorities have transformed the area into a vast tent city with 3,000 kitchens, 150,000 restrooms, and 11 hospitals, supported by enhanced security and AI-powered crowd management systems.

Written by B.C. Begley