Photos: The Hindu Kumbh Festival in India

Posted Dec 04, 2012

Kumbh Mela is a mass Hindu pilgrimage in which Hindus gather at the Ganges and river Godavari, where bathing for purification from sin is considered especially efficacious. The upcoming over-a-month-long Mahakumbh fair began in Allahabad, India, Monday, Dec. 3, 2012. Millions of Hindu pilgrims are expected to take part in the largest religious congregation on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, during the festival in January 2013, which falls every twelfth year. (AP, Wikipedia)

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A Naga sadhu, or naked Hindu holy man, reflected on a mirror, ties his turban after taking a holy dip in the River Ganges during preparations for the upcoming over-a-month-long Mahakumbh fair in Allahabad, India, Monday, Dec. 3, 2012. Millions of Hindu pilgrims are expected to take part in the largest religious congregation on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, during the festival in January 2013, which falls every twelfth year. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
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Sadhus, or Hindu holy men, discuss arrangement plans for the upcoming over-a-month-long Mahakumbh fair with Inspector General of Police Alok Sharma, center, in Allahabad, India, Monday, Dec. 3, 2012. Millions of Hindu pilgrims are expected to take part in the largest religious congregation on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, during the festival in January 2013, which falls every twelfth year. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
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An Indian bomb squad official inspects a land allotted for setting up tents for the upcoming over-a-month-long Mahakumbh fair in Allahabad, India, Monday, Dec. 3, 2012. Millions of Hindu pilgrims are expected to take part in the largest religious congregation on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, during the festival in January 2013, which falls every twelfth year. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
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A Naga Sadhu, or Hindu holy man, sits near a bonfire after taking a holy dip in the River Ganges during the preparations for the upcoming over-a-month-long Mahakumbh fair in Allahabad, India, Monday, Dec. 3, 2012. Millions of Hindu pilgrims are expected to take part in the largest religious congregation on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, during the festival in January 2013, which falls every twelfth year. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
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Indian sadhus, or Hindu holy men, worship the land allotted to them for setting up their tents for the upcoming over-a-month-long Mahakumbh fair in Allahabad, India, Monday, Dec. 3, 2012. Millions of Hindu pilgrims are expected to take part in the large religious congregation on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, during the festival in January 2013, which falls every twelfth year. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
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A Sadhu, or Hindu holy man, smokes marijuana during the preparations for the upcoming over-a-month-long Mahakumbh fair in Allahabad, India, Monday, Dec. 3, 2012. Millions of Hindu pilgrims are expected to take part in the large religious congregation on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, during the festival in January 2013, which falls every twelfth year. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
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Amar Bharti, 58, a Naga sadhu, or naked Hindu holy man, who claims to have left uncut his nails for 28 years, speaks on his mobile phone near the land allotted for setting camps for the upcoming over-a-month-long Mahakumbh fair in Allahabad, India, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012. Millions of Hindu pilgrims are expected to take part in the largest religious congregation on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganges, amuna and mythical Saraswati, during the festival in January 2013, which falls every twelfth year. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
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Indian laborers carry an iron plate to construct a temporary road on the banks of the River Ganges in preparation for the upcoming over-a-month-long Mahakumbh fair in Allahabad, India, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012. Millions of Hindu pilgrims are expected to take part in the largest religious congregation on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganges, amuna and mythical Saraswati, during the festival in January 2013, which falls every twelfth year. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
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Sadhus, or Hindu holy men, raise slogans after land was allotted to them for setting up tents for the upcoming over-a-month-long Mahakumbh fair in Allahabad, India, Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012. Millions of Hindu pilgrims are expected to take part in the largest religious congregation on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganges, amuna and mythical Saraswati, during the festival in January, 2013, which falls every twelfth year. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
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The hair of a Sadhu, or Hindu holy man, is decorated with marigold flowers as he sits with others to discuss setting up of tents for the upcoming over-a-month-long Mahakumbh fair in Allahabad, India, Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012. Millions of Hindu pilgrims are expected to take part in the largest religious congregation on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, during the festival in January, 2013, which falls every twelfth year. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
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Laborers work to construct a temporary pontoon bridge on the River Ganges for the upcoming Maha Kumbh festival in Allahabad, India, Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012. Millions of Hindu pilgrims are expected to take part in the largest religious congregation on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, during the festival in January, 2013, which falls every twelfth year. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
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A sadhus, or Hindu holy man, worships the area of land allotted to his group for setting up tents for the upcoming over-a-month-long Mahakumbh fair in Allahabad, India, Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012. Millions of Hindu pilgrims are expected to take part in the largest religious congregation on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganges, amuna and mythical Saraswati, during the festival in January, 2013, which falls every twelfth year. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
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Sadhus, or Hindu holy men, led by Swami Madhav Das mark the area of land allotted to them for setting up tents for the upcoming over-a-month-long Mahakumbh fair in Allahabad, India, Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012. Millions of Hindu pilgrims are expected to take part in the largest religious congregation on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganges, amuna and mythical Saraswati, during the festival in January, 2013, which falls every twelfth year. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)