Devotees take a dip at Sangam on ‘Basant Panchami’

Hindu devotees throng Sangam, confluence of Hindu holy rivers of Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, early morning for a ritual dip, on the auspicious occasion of 'Basant Panchami' at the annual traditional fair of Magh Mela in Allahabad.
Basant Panchami, the fifth day of spring is celebrated by worshipping Hindu Goddess of knowledge and wisdom, Saraswati. Hundreds of thousands of devout Hindus bathe at the confluence during the astronomically auspicious period of over 45 days celebrated as “Magh Mela.”(AP)

A Hindu devotee offers prayers to Sun God at Sangam. (AP)

A Naga Sadhu takes holy dips at Sangam. (AP)

A Sadhu smears his face with ash at Sangam, confluence of Hindu holy rivers of Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, for a ritual dip, on the auspicious occasion of “Basant Panchami” at the annual traditional fair of Magh Mela in Allahabad, India, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2014. Basant Panchami, the fifth day of spring is celebrated by worshipping Hindu Goddess of knowledge and wisdom, Saraswati. Hundreds of thousands of devout Hindus bathe at the confluence during the astronomically auspicious period of over 45 days celebrated as “Magh Mela.”(AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

A naga sadhu sits on the bank of the River Ganges in Varanasi.
Varanasi is among the world's oldest cities, and millions of Hindu pilgrims gather annually here for ritual bathing and prayers in the river which is considered as the holiest by Hindus. (AP)

A Hindu devotee offers prayers at Sangam, confluence of Hindu holy rivers of Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, for a ritual dip, on the auspicious occasion of 'Basant Panchami' at the annual traditional fair of Magh Mela in Allahabad. (AP)

Devotee throng Sangam, confluence of Hindu holy rivers of Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, for a ritual dip, on the auspicious occasion of 'Basant Panchami' at the annual traditional fair of Magh Mela in Allahabad. (AP)

A devotee runs in the waters of the River Ganges during Basant Panchami that falls in the period of the month-long Magh Mela festival in Allahabad. (AP)

Hindu devotees offers prayers to the Sun god after taking a holy dip at the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers, on 'Mauni Amavasya' or new moon day, the third and most auspicious date of bathing during the annual month long Hindu religious fair 'Magh Mela' in Allahabad.
Hundreds of thousands of Hindu pilgrims take dips in the confluence, hoping to wash away sins during the month long festival. (AP)

A Hindu devotee holds an oil lamp and offers prayers to the Sun god after taking a holy dip at the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers, on 'Mauni Amavasya' or new moon day, the third and most auspicious date of bathing during the annual month long Hindu religious fair 'Magh Mela' in Allahabad. (AP)

A Sadhu rolls his beard as he attends the annual month-long Hindu religious fair of Magh Mela festival at the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers, in Allahabad. (AP)

J & K Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand performs worship at Sangam during Magh Mela festival in Allahabad on Friday. (PTI)

Bollywood actor Rajpal Yadav performs worship during Magh Mela festival in Allahabad on Friday. (PTI)

A Sadhu performing prayer after taking holy dip in river Ganga, during Magh Mela festival at Sangam, in Allahabad on Friday. (PTI)

Devotees take holy dips as flowers offered by devotees float at Sangam during the annual traditional fair Magh Mela in Allahabad.
Hundreds of thousands of devout Hindus are expected to take holy dips at the confluence during this astronomically auspicious period of over 45 days. (AP)

Pilgrims arrive on the eve of ‘Mauni Amavasya,’ an important bathing day at Sangam in Allahabad. (AP)

Priests rotate traditional oil lamps as they perform evening rituals at the Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers, during the annual traditional fair 'Magh Mela' in Allahabad. (AP)

Pilgrims walk on the banks of the Sangam. (AP)

Pilgrims walk followed by a calf at the Sangam. (AP)

Devotees cross temporary pontoon bridges in the early morning at Sangam. (AP)

A devout Hindu performs rituals early morning at Sangam. (AP)

Devotees walk early morning at Sangam. (AP)

Hindu pilgrims walk on the banks of the Sangam. (AP)

Light shines from a tent of devotees resting at the Sangam. (AP)

Hindus and Muslims paying homage to the last year's Kumbh stampede victims in Allahabad on Wednesday. (PTI)

A Sadhu attends the annual traditional fair 'Magh Mela' at Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati in Allahabad.
Hundreds of thousands of devout Hindus take holy dips at the confluence during the astronomically auspicious period of over 45 days celebrated as Magh Mela. (AP)

Hindu devotees perform evening rituals at Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati river, during the annual traditional fair ' Magh Mela' in Allahabad. (AP)

Sadhus participate in a community feast at Sangam, the confluence of the Rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati river during the annual month long religious fair of Magh Mela in Allahabad. (AP)

Bollywood actor Ashutosh Rana making clay Shiva Lingas of mud during Magh Mela festival at Pandal at Sangam,in Allahabad. (PTI)

A Sadhu attends the annual month-long Hindu religious fair of Magh Mela at the Sangam. (AP)

Old devotees listen to religious songs at Sangam. (AP)

A sadhu peeps out from his tent at Sangam, the confluence of rivers the Ganges and the Yamuna during the annual traditional fair ' Magh Mela' in Allahabad. (AP)

A sadhu participates in a community feast at Sangam. (AP)

The shadow of a devotee combing his hair after a holy dip is selected on a tent at Sangam in Allahabad. (AP)

A sadhu performs evening rituals at Sangam, the confluence of rivers the Ganges and the Yamuna during the annual traditional fair ' Magh Mela' in Allahabad. (AP)

Hundreds of tents are set up for the devotees by the river side. People take holy dips at Sangam during the astronomically auspicious period of over 45 days celebrated as Magh Mela. (IE Photo)