Hundreds of thousands Hindu pilgrims gather before dawn on the bank of the Ganges river, near the Sangam, during the Kumbh Mela 2013 festival near Allahabad (India).

The Triveni Sangam is the confluence of the Yamuna and the Ganga (Ganges) rivers, and this is the holiest place to take the ritual baths during the Kumbh Mela.

This was the early morning of Kumbh Maha Snan or main bathing day, also called Mauni Amavasya, which is the the most auspicious morning for taking the holy bath in the Ganges river. After a 7 km night walk, I arrived at the Sangam area at about 2am.

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.