The Maha Kumbh Mela, being held from January 13 to February 26 in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj, saw its first Amrit Snan occasion of Makar Sankranti on Tuesday. This holy dip is led by sadhus or seers from akharas,

The Kumbh Mela has grown over the years and has transformed from a religious gathering to much more. It provides a perfect combination of spirituality, adventure, and cultural diversity that makes it a very attractive destination for the young crowd.

Vast crowds of Hindu pilgrims in India bathed in sacred waters as the Kumbh Mela festival opened on Monday, with organisers expecting 400 million people -- the world's largest gathering of humanity -- to assemble over six weeks.India is the world's most populous nation, with 1.4 billion people, and so is used to large crowds.