Orange flower offerings floating on the Ganges river, during the Kumbh Mela 2013 Hindu festival near Allahabad (India)

The boats are moored together, forming large "flotting islands" on the shallow waters. Here is a view from the river bank. Hindu pilgrims take the holy bath from those river boats.

This was January 27 (a full-moon night, called Paush Purnima), one of the most auspicious days for taking the holy bath.

Kumbh Mela is the largest festival on Earth, taking place once every 12 years, with more than 50 million Hindu pilgrims gathering to pray and bathe in the holy Ganges river.

For more photos and info about the Kumbh Mela festival, read the album description.