Hindu pilgrims prepare for Maha Kumbh Mela
Tens of thousands of Hindu pilgrims have begun arriving in the north Indian holy city of Allahabad for the festival Maha Kumbh Mela.
The festival, said to be one of the world's largest gatherings of people, begins with millions of pilgrims taking a bath at the junction of the three holy rivers - the Ganges, the Yamuna and the Saraswati - to cleanse them of their sins.
Kumbh Mela brings a gathering of holy men, pilgrims and tourists to Allahabad every 12 years.
More than 40 million people congregated in the holy city at the last festival in 2001.
Millions bathe in Ganges for Hindu cleansing festival
The Kumbh Mela will see up to 100 million Hindus assembling over the next two months to take a holy bath in the Ganges River in India.
India to host the largest religious event in the world
Tomorrow sees the start of the Maha Kumbh Mela - a mass Hindu pilgrimage and the biggest religious event in the world.