Magh Mela, the annual month-long Hindu religious fair, began January 5, 2015 and ends on February 17 in Allahabad, India. During Magh Mela, hundreds of thousands of devout Hindus camp and take a bath at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers during the astronomically auspicious period of over 45 days, hoping to rid themselves of their sins and attain prosperity.
Boatmen keep warm by a bonfire early morning at Sangam, the confluence of the Rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, on the first day of Magh Mela Festival in Allahabad. (Photo: AP/ Rajesh Kumar Singh)A Hindu holy man takes a dip at Sangam, during the month long ‘Magh Mela’ in Allahabad. (Photo: AP/Rajesh Kumar Singh)A Hindu holy man is reflected on a mirror as he prepares a bowl of vermilion powder for devotees near “Sangam”, during the annual traditional fair of Magh Mela in Allahabad. (Photo: AP/Rajesh Kumar Singh)An Indian Naga Sadhu, performs yoga exercises on the banks of the River Ganges during the Magh Mela in Allahabad. Written on wall in background is “Gangaraksha,” or Ganga Protection. (Photo: AP/Rajesh Kumar Singh)An Indian holy man returns after taking a holy dip at Sangam. (Photo: AP/ Rajesh Kumar Singh)Hindu pilgrims offer prayers after taking a holy dip at “Sangam,” on the auspicious “Paush Purnima” day during the annual traditional fair of Magh Mela in Allahabad. (Photo: AP/Rajesh Kumar Singh)A Hindu holy man stands in the backdrop of a tent during the annual Magh Mela festival, Allahabad. (Photo: AP/Rajesh Kumar Singh)A man lowers his 17-month-old son for a holy dip in the River Ganga during the annual traditional fair of Magh Mela in Allahabad. (Photo: AP/Rajesh Kumar Singh)Hindu devotee holds an oil lamp and offers prayers to the Sun god at the Sangam, during the annual traditional fair of Magh Mela, in Allahabad. (Photo: AP/Rajesh Kumar Singh)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 in Allahabad. (Photo: AP/Rajesh Kumar Singh)Hindu devotees dry their clothes after taking a dip in River Ganges, during the annual traditional fair of Magh Mela in Allahabad. (Photo: AP/Rajesh Kumar Singh)Indian Hindu devotees walk amid the bonfire smoke at the Sangam, in Allahabad. (Photo: AP/Rajesh Kumar Singh)A Hindu devotee dries clothes after taking a dip at the Sangam, during the celebration of ‘Magh Mela’. (Photo: AP/Rajesh Kumar Singh)Light shines from tents of Hindu devotees preparing their evening meal at “Sangam,”during the annual traditional fair ‘ Magh Mela’ in Allahabad. (Photo: AP/Rajesh Kumar Singh)Indian Hindu devotees use steel plates to give offering during a prayer at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers, during the annual traditional fair of Magh Mela in Allahabad. (Photo: AP /Rajesh Kumar Singh)A shopkeeper waits in his shop as Hindu devotees arrive at the ‘Sangam’, during the Basant Panchami festival in Allahabad.(Photo: AP/Rajesh Kumar Singh)Indian Hindu priest rotates a traditional oil lamp in circular movements as he performs evening rituals at Sangam. (Photo: AP/Rajesh Kumar Singh)Indian children dressed as Hindu God Shiva (right) and Parvati hold a toy gun as they pose for a photograph during the annual traditional fair of Magh Mela at the Sangam, in Allahabad. (Photo: AP/Rajesh Kumar Singh)An elderly Hindu devotee prays as Rapid Action Force (RAF) soldiers patrol at Sangam, in Allahabad. (Photo: AP/Rajesh Kumar Singh)Children attend a class at a camp organized by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, or World Hindu Council, the umbrella organization of Hindu nationalist groups at Sangam during the annual month long Hindu religious fair of Magh Mela in Allahabad. (Photo: AP/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
