Making the Hindu's holy pilgrimage to celebrate the beginning of the world

Hundreds of thousands of Hindus have been making the pilgrimage to holy waters for Magh Mela.

The Magh Mela, a celebration of the origin on the universe, is one of the year’s most important religious affairs for Hindus. It falls every year during the Hindu month of Magh, which lasts from mid-January to mid-February. It involves bathing at Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganges and Yamuna, and lasts for 45 days.

The Magh Mela is a smaller version of Kumbh Mela, which occurs once every three years (the last one was in 2013). It is considered the largest peaceful gathering in the world.

Indian pilgrims walk on a jetty as they wait to cross the Muri-Ganga on their way to Gangasakar, the confluence of the Ganges River and the Bay of Bengal, in India. Pilgrims have been making there way to the holy site for the past several weeks.

IMAGE: BIKAS DAS/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hindu devotees prepare to take a holy dip at Sangam during the annual month-long Hindu religious fair Magh Mela in Allahabad, India.

IMAGE: RAJESH KUMAR SINGH/ASSOCIATED PRESS
An Indian Hindu Holy man carries a glass as he walks out of his tent to perform a ritual ahead of the annual month long Hindu religious fair Magh Mela, in Allahabad.

IMAGE: RAJESH KUMAR SINGH/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hindu devotees bathe early morning at Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganges and Yamuna.

IMAGE: RAJESH KUMAR SINGH/ASSOCIATED PRESS
A Hindu devotee offers prayers after a holy dip at Sangam.

IMAGE: RAJESH KUMAR SINGH/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Indian pilgrims take a holy dip in Bay of Bengal at Sagar Island.

IMAGE: PIYAL ADHIKARY/EPA
Indian devotees perform holy music on the Bay of Bengal as they visit Sagar Island to take a dip in sacred waters of Ganges River before she merges in the Bay of Bengal.

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Hindu pilgrims offer prayers prior to taking a holy dip in Gangasagar, India. The annual holy dip, that devotees believe absolves them of sin, is scheduled to start January 14 at the confluence of the Bay of Bengal and Ganges River.

IMAGE: BIKAS DAS/ASSOCIATED PRESS
A Indian Hindu devotee performs rituals after a holy dip at Sangam in Allahabad, India.

IMAGE: RAJESH KUMAR SINGH/ASSOCIATED PRESS
A Hindu holy man is reflected on a mirror as he prepares a bowl of vermillion powder for devotees near Sangam in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, India.

IMAGE: RAJESH KUMAR SINGH/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tents of Hindu devotees dot the the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, during the annual traditional Magh Mela fair in Allahabad, India.

IMAGE: RAJESH KUMAR SINGH/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hindu devotees take a holy dip at Sangam.

IMAGE: RAJESH KUMAR SINGH/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Indian pilgrims brush their teeth during a dip in Bay of Bengal with the holy water.

IMAGE: PIYAL ADHIKARY/EPA