Magh Mela, the annual Hindu festival, is currently taking place in the northern Indian city of Allahabad. Hundreds of thousands of devout Hindus are expected to bathe in the waters of Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers.
The festival is held during the astronomically auspicious month of Magh, over a period of over 45 days.
While Magh Mela is an enormous event, the number of devotees pale in comaprison to the Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years. It is estimated that 80 to 100 million people attended the Kumbh Mela on 10 Feb 2013, making it almost certainly the largest human gathering on a single day in history.
In this gallery, IBTimesUK looks at this year's Magh Mela.
A Hindu holy man takes a selfie on a mobile phone during the annual Magh Mela festival in Allahabad, IndiaAPCrowds of Hindu devotees prepare to take a ritual dip at Sangam, the confluence of holy rivers of Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical SaraswatiAPA Naga Sadhu takes a holy dip at Sangam during Magh Mela, in the northern Indian city of AllahabadReutersA Naga Sadhu, or naked Hindu holy man, bathes at Sangam, confluence of the sacred Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati riversAPA Sadhu twirls his beard as he attends the annual month-long festivalAPA boatman waits for devotees near a sign reading: "Muddy ground ahead, do not proceed"APA Hindu holy man standing at a gate watches dancing girls as they perform at a show during the annual traditional fairAPDaredevils perform stunts at the wall of death at the fairgrounds adjoining the Magh Mela siteAPA general view of a giant tent city built for pilgrims attending the Magh MelaReutersPilgrims leave the tent city before dawn and head towards the waterAPA boy uses magnets to retrieve coins offered to the river by devoteesAPChildren sort coins which they collected from the water by using magnetsAPA woman holding an oil lamp makes offerings after taking a holy dip at SangamAPA Sadhu, or Hindu holy man, performs prayers while sitting inside circles of burning "Upale" (or dried cow dung cakes) on the banks of the river GangesReutersDevotees walk past a Sadhu lying on the thorns of a Babul tree to beg for almsReutersHindu priests light a traditional oil lamp before the start of evening prayersReutersAn elderly man joins the thousands of devotees at this year's festivalAPA man transports the belongings of Hindu priests, who set up stalls along the banks of river Ganges during Magh MelaReutersDevotees make their way across pontoon bridges spanning the waters of Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati riversReutersIndian security personnel stand guard on a bridge overlooking the pilgrims' tent cityAP
