Millions of Hindu enthusiast will take a holy dip in the Ganges River on Monday on one of the six most propitious days to bathe during Kumbh Mela – the world’s largest religious festival.
More than 18 million pilgrims – led by naked, ash-smeared anchorite – entered the terra last week as the festival began.
During the eight-week convention at Prayagraj, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, up to 150 million people, counting a million foreign visitors, are expected to bathe at the convergence of the Ganges, the Yamuna, and a fabulous third river, the Saraswati.
For the first time at the Kumbh Mela, an epicene ashram known as the Kinnar Akhara and led by rights LGBTQ activist Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi from Mumbai joined the holy bathing. Tripathi, a tattooed epicene leader and a former reality TV star, has become an unlikely icon at the festival.
India legalised gay sex in September, but the LGBTQ circle still faces preconception in the deeply religious country.
The Kumbh Mela festival has its rhizome in a Hindu heritage that says the God Vishnu wrested a golden pot holding the nectar of constancy from cacodemon.
In a 12-day fight for guardianship, four drops fell to Earth, in the cities of Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik, which now share the Kumbhs.

#KumbhMela2019#Kumbh2019#Kumbh#world#india
Pictures are sent by a Air Force officer, who was on duty flying over #KumbhMela Site.
Amazing colourful pictures & enchanting eye catching lights of lives, making the night as day gloom,do soon a visit, what a versatile view 👇👇👇 pic.twitter.com/UXFGGSXgpx

— Jahanvi Rajpurohit (@JahanviRajpuro3) January 23, 2019

its a great felling for me…as doing work for the society #childfriendlykumbh #kumbh2019 #kumbhmela2019 #muktika https://t.co/LOChr5xHZB

— amarsingh (@amar28968) January 22, 2019

And you Netflix and chill
.#dapper #dapperarmy #sangam #kumbh #kumbhmela2019 #kumbhmela #kumbhcalls #kumbh2019 #prayagrajkumbh #allahabad pic.twitter.com/UMoDaimjmn

— Yashashvi Singh (@dappernextdoor) January 21, 2019

Experience the largest gathering of hindus who believe that those who bathe in the sacred waters during kumbh are eternally blessed by the divine. #PrayagrajKumbh2019#Kumbh2019

— Samvida Singh (@SamvidaSingh) January 22, 2019

For those visiting the Kumbh Mela, visit KEI’s charging kiosks to stay connected to your loved ones! @anandpra @sahirseth1 @ijyotisharma @keicable #KEIAtKumbh #JodeDiloKeTaar #50YearsOfKEI #SafetyFirst #Kumbh2019 #KumbhMela #KumbhPrayagraj pic.twitter.com/nttGHRaBJ6

— Bhavya Rakhra (@bhavyarakhra) January 21, 2019

His Holiness Dalai Lama is not coming to Kumbh Mela 2019 due to health reasons. He was previously planned to come to Kumbh 2019 for three days from 26-28 January, 2019. @DalaiLama @religionworldIN @PrayagrajKumbh pic.twitter.com/wLIzk3o4kz

— BhavyaRW (@MeBhavya) January 23, 2019

There are 14 akhadas in Jhunsi area, incl the newest #KinnarAkhada of the transvestite community. The akhadas serve free langar all day. The food is wholesome & delicious. Eating among the faithful from all walks of life is an experience #Kumbh2019 6/n pic.twitter.com/5yzJzU6TIV

— Smita Barooah (@smitabarooah) January 22, 2019