Kumbh Meal 2019: SEE PICTURES from Prayagraj - Lakhs of devotees take holy dip in Sangam

Kumbh Meal 2019: At the break of dawn, chants of 'Har Har Gange' reached its crescendo as lakhs of devotees, ascetics and religious leaders of various orders congregated at the Sangam on January 15, 2019 for a ritual dip, marking the beginning of the Kumbh Mela. (AFP)

Kumbh Meal 2019: State authorities in Uttar Pradesh are expecting 12 million visitors to descend on Allahabad for the centuries-old festival, which officially begins on January 15 and continues until early March. (AFP)

Kumbh Meal 2019: Hindu pilgrims arrive to take a holy dip at the holy Sangam at the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, on January 15, 2019. (AFP)

Kumbh Meal 2019: Followers of the Kinnar Akhara monastic Hindu order made up of transgender members take a dip in the Sangam during the auspicious bathing day of Makar Sankranti at the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad on January 15, 2019. (AFP)

Kumbh Meal 2019: Attracting eye-balls of one and all, especially the foreigners, was the march of Naga sadhus, a martial order of ascetics who move about naked with ash smeared on their whole body. (AFP)

Kumbh Meal 2019: Sadhus (Hindu holy men) take a dip into the water of the holy Sangam -- the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers -- during the auspicious bathing day of Makar Sankranti at the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, on January 15, 2019. (AFP)

Kumbh Meal 2019: Devotees braved the cold weather to take a dip in the icy water as they reached the Kumbh Nagari which witnessed a huge rush of people from far-away lands as early as 4 in the morning. Naked sadhus (Hindu holy men) take a dip in the water of the holy Sangam at the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, on January 15, 2019. (AFP)

Kumbh Meal 2019: Sadhus of 13 akharas (seven Shaiva, three Vaishnava, two Udasina, and one Sikh) who have traditionally participated in the Kumbh Mela, the largest congregation in the world, were the first to take the holy bath known as 'Shahi Snan'. (AFP)

Kumbh Meal 2019: Hindu devotees take part in a religious procession towards the Sangam area during the 'royal entry' for the upcoming Kumbh Mela festival in Allahabad on January 11, 2019. - The festival attracts millions of Hindu pilgrims to the sacred confluence of the Yamuna and Ganges rivers over 49 days between January 15 and March 4. (AFP)

Kumbh Meal 2019: Tents of sadhus (Hindu holy men) are pitched on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers for the upcoming Kumbh Mela festival in Allahabad on January 9, 2019. (AFP)

Kumbh Meal 2019: Naked sadhus (Hindu holy men) ride horses as they take part in a religious procession towards the Sangam area during the 'royal entry' for the upcoming Kumbh Mela festival in Allahabad on January 4, 2019. (AFP)

Amongst the venues of the Kumbh Mela, Allahabad or Prayag is revered as the most holy one. Firstly, it is the place where the three sacred rivers come together to form the holy sangam and secondly, it is revered as the place of first sacrifice performed by Lord Brahma after the creation of the universe.

The Kumbh Mela, one of the biggest holy gatherings of Hinduism, attracts as many as 100 million pilgrims from around the world. The pilgrims come to Prayagraj to attain moksha, salvation from the unending cycle of life and death./ANI

The ardha Kumbh Mela is held at Haridwar and Allahabad (Prayag) after every six years, the purna Kumbh Mela is held at Allahabad (Prayag) after 12 years and Maha Kumbh Mela takes place at Allahabad (Prayag) after 144 years.

The mythology behind Kumbh Mela is that it is held every 12 years as it represents the 12 days and 12 nights of the war between the Gods and Demons. One day and one night in heaven is considered equal to one human year.

The Kumbh Mela is attended by devotees as well as sadhus. The naga sadhus participating in this festival are completely naked.

The festival is over 2000 years old! The first written evidence of the mela can be found in the accounts of the Chinese traveller Xuanzang, who visited India during the reign of King Harshavardhana.

The four venues where the Kumbh Mela is held are - Ujjain, Nashik, Haridwar and Allahabad. Each of the venue has the mela after every three years.

The main ritual for the pilgrims attending the Kumbh Mela is Snan, bathing on the banks of the sacred river which flows at the place where the mela is being organized, namely Ganga in Haridwar, Sangam in Allahabad, Kshipra in Ujjain and Godavari in Nashik.

The mela is organized according to a special planetary configuration, when Sun enters Aries and Jupiter enters Aquarius. Some years hold special significance as such configurations get repeated after very long gaps.

Several holy men (Sadhus) from different Hindu sects attend the mela, such as the Nagas (who do not wear any clothes), Kalpwasis (who bathe thrice a day) and Urdhawavahurs (who believe in putting the body through severe austerities).