Maha Kumbh Begins, Nearly 10 Million Take Holy Dip on Day 1

Maha Kumbh, the world's largest gathering, began on Monday with millions of people taking a dip in the mythical Sangam of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the Saraswati river.

- Agencies

MAHAKUMBH NAGAR: Maha Kumbh, the world's largest gathering, began on Monday with millions of people taking a dip in the mythical Sangam of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the Saraswati river.

More than 350 million people are expected over 45 days in the mela, being held after 12 years. Besides, seers claim the celestial permutations and combinations for the event are taking place after 144 years, making the occasion even more auspicious for the faithful.

"Till now, around 1 crore (10 million) devotees have taken a holy dip in Sangam area on the first 'Amrit snan' day," Uttar Pradesh DGP Prashant Kumar was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Earlier on Saturday, 3.3 million devotees visited the mela area to bathe in the sangam, director information Shishir said, adding over 8.5 million people bathed in the river over the past two days.