Maha Kumbh Mela religious festival begins in India

Over in India, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, the world's largest religious gathering, the Maha Kumbh Mela, also known as the Great Pitcher Festival, kicked off on Monday.

Held every 12 years, the festival is expected to draw over 400 million Hindus over the next six weeks.

During the festival, devotees take part in rituals such as the Shahi Snan or the Royal Bath, where they immerse themselves in the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers, known as the sacred waters. The act is believed to cleanse sins and help people reach salvation.