Kumbh Mela ‘Shravan Shudha- First Snan’: Thousand of devotees take dip on the banks of Godavari River

Wednesday (August 26) marked the first day of bathing for those attending this year’s Kumbh Mela festival on the banks of the Godavari River in Maharashtra state.

Indian devotees perform rituals as they take holy dips in the Godavari River during Kumbh Mela, or Pitcher Festival, in Nasik, India. (Source: Photo by AP)

Hindus believe taking a dip in the waters of a holy river during Kumbh Mela Festival will cleanse them of their sins. (Source: Photo by AP)

Thousands of devout Hindus began splashing into the west Indian river (Godavari) on the first official day Wednesday of bathing at one of the country’s largest festivals - Kumbh Mela. (Source: Photo by AP)

Picture used for representational purpose (Source: Photo by AP)

The major event of the festival is ritual bathing at the banks of the river in whichever town Kumbh Mela being held: Ganga in Haridwar, Godavari in Nashik, Kshipra in Ujjain and Sangam (confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati) in Allahabad (Prayag).

Hindu pilgrims offer prayers to an idol of monkey God Hanuman as they gather next to the Godavari River during Kumbh Mela. (Source: Photo by AP)

One of the major events of Kumbh Mela is the Peshwai Procession, which marks the arrival of the members of an akhara or sect of sadhus at the Kumbh Mela.

A Hindu holy man takes dips in Godavari River on the first official day of bathing as part of Kumbh Mela, or Pitcher Festival celebrations in Nashik. (Source: Photo by AP)

Hindus believe that sins accumulated in past and current lives require them to continue the cycle of death and rebirth until they are cleansed. Bathing in sacred waters on the most auspicious day of the Kumbh Festival, or Pitcher Festival, believers say rids them of their sins.

Millions are expected to attend this year’s Kumbh Mela festival, which began in mid-July and runs until the end of September. (Source: Photo by AP)

Hindu women perform rituals on the banks of the Godavari River in Nashik, India.

Kumbh Mela is one of the world's largest religious gatherings during which Hindus bathe in a holy river. (Source: Photo by AP)