Millions travel for Hindu festival

A sadhu or Hindu ascetic monk is pictured on Feb. 8, 2013. The Maha Kumbh Mela, believed to be the largest religious gathering on earth, is held every 12 years on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of the holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati.

A group of young sadhus performing an initiation ceremony.

Pilgrims arrive in Prayag for the Kumbh Mela, crossing one of the makeshift bridges erected for the event.

A young girl dressed as Lord Krishna begs for money.

A pilgrim arrives in Prayag, carrying her belongings.

Two sadhus at the the Maha Kumbh Mela.

A sadhu sits in front of a statue of the Hindu goddess Kali.

Hindus believe bathing during the Kumbh Mela will wash away their sins.

Early morning ritual bathing in the Ganges.

A sadhu at an initiation ceremony for a new ascetic monks held beside the Ganges.

An Indian Hindu devotee man carries his mother, believed to be 100 years old, on his shoulder as they arrive at Sangam, the confluence of the Rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati ,in Allahabad, India , Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. Millions of Hindu pilgrims are attending the Maha Kumbh festival, which is one of the world's largest religious gatherings that lasts 55 days and falls every 12 years.

A sadhu makes his way towards the banks of Sangam during the Maha Kumbh Mela on Jan. 15, 2013, in Allahabad, India. The Maha Kumbh Mela, believed to be the largest religious gathering on earth, is held every 12 years on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of the holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati. The festival lasts over 55 days and is expected to attract 40 million people.

Hindu devotees bathe in the waters of the holy Ganges river during the auspicious royal bathing day of Makar Sankranti, the start of the Maha Kumbh Mela on Jan. 14, 2013, in Allahabad, India.

Hindu devotees bathe on the banks of the Ganges river as people gather ahead of the Maha Kumbh Mela on Jan. 13, 2013, in Allahabad, India.

Hindu devotees carry their posessions as they walk towards the banks of the holy Ganges river as people gather ahead of the Maha Kumbh Mela on Jan. 13, 2013, in Allahabad, India. The Kumbh Mela alternates between the cities of Nasik, Allahabad, Ujjain and Haridwar every three years.

A Sadhu or Hindu holy man dries off his dreadlocks after having bathed in the holy Ganges river ahead of the Maha Kumbh Mela on Jan. 13, 2013, in Allahabad, India.

A Hindu devotee holds out a saree to dry after having bathed on the banks of the Ganges river ahead of the Maha Kumbh Mela on Jan. 13, 2013, in Allahabad, India.

A Sadhu rubs oil onto his skin after having bathed on the banks of the Ganges river ahead of the Maha Kumbh Mela on Jan. 13, 2013, in Allahabad, India.

Hindu devotees bathe on the banks of the Ganges river as people gather ahead of the Maha Kumbh Mela on Jan. 13, 2013, in Allahabad, India.

Hindu devotees and police, walk towards the banks of the Ganges river as they arrive ahead of the Maha Kumbh Mela on Jan. 12, 2013, in Allahabad, India.

Hindu devotees look up at the gate of the Shri Panchayati Akhara Bara Udasin as they gather ahead of the Maha Kumbh Mela on Jan. 12, 2013, in Allahabad, India.

Hindu devotees from Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh, walk towards the banks of the Ganges river as they arrive with their belongings ahead of the Maha Kumbh Mela on Jan. 12, 2013, in Allahabad, India.

A Hindu devotee gives a donation to Sadhus or Hindu holy men on the banks of the Ganges river as people gather ahead of the Maha Kumbh Mela on Jan. 12, 2013, in Allahabad, India.

A Sadhu walks along a path as he and others arrive ahead of the Maha Kumbh Mela on Jan. 12, 2013, in Allahabad, India.

Hindu Sadhus or holy men gather ahead of the Maha Kumbh Mela on Jan. 12, 2013, in Allahabad, India.

A Sadhu blows a conch shell as other Sadhus or Hindu holy men bathe on the banks of the Ganges river as people gather ahead of the Maha Kumbh Mela on Jan. 12, 2013, in Allahabad, India.

Hindu devotees bathe on the banks of the Ganges river as people gather ahead of the Maha Kumbh Mela on Jan. 13, 2013, in Allahabad, India.

A Sadhu or Hindu holy man bathes in the holy Ganges river ahead of the Maha Kumbh Mela on Jan. 13, 2013, in Allahabad, India.

A Hindu lifesaver keeps a watchful eye as devotees bathe in the waters of the holy Ganges river during the auspicious bathing day of Makar Sankranti of the Maha Kumbh Mela on Jan. 14, 2013, in Allahabad, India.

A Sadhu, Hindu holy man, pours water from a conch shell as he prays on the banks of the holy Ganges river ahead of the Maha Kumbh Mela on Jan. 13, 2013, in Allahabad, India.

Hindu devotees bathe on the banks of the Ganges river as people gather ahead of the Maha Kumbh Mela on Jan. 13, 2013, in Allahabad, India.

Hindu devotees bathe in the waters of the holy Ganges river during the auspicious bathing day of Makar Sankranti of the Maha Kumbh Mela on Jan. 14, 2013, in Allahabad, India.

Hindu devotees move towards the waters of the holy Ganges river during the auspicious bathing day of Makar Sankranti of the Maha Kumbh Mela on Jan. 14, 2013, in Allahabad, India.

Hindu devotees bathe on the banks of the Ganges river as people gather ahead of the Maha Kumbh Mela on Jan. 13, 2013, in Allahabad, India.

A Hindu devotee is overcome by emotion as she and others bathe on the banks of the holy Ganges river ahead of the Maha Kumbh Mela on Jan. 13, 2013, in Allahabad, India.

Naga sadhus bathe in the waters of the holy Ganges river during the auspicious royal bathing day of Makar Sankranti, the start of the Maha Kumbh Mela on Jan. 13, 2013, in Allahabad, India.

Hindu devotees perform an aarti or Hindu ceremony on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of the waters of the holy rivers Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, during the Maha Kumbh Mela on Jan. 15, 2013, in Allahabad, India.

Hindu devotees make their way across a pontoon after having bathed in the waters of Sangam, the confluence of the holy rivers Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, during the Maha Kumbh Mela on Jan. 15, 2013, in Allahabad, India.

Hindu devotees bathe in the waters of the holy Ganges river during the auspicious royal bathing day of Makar Sankranti, the start of the Maha Kumbh Mela on Jan. 14, 2013, in Allahabad, India.

Hindu devotees bathe in the waters of the holy Ganges river during the auspicious royal bathing day of Makar Sankranti, the start of the Maha Kumbh Mela on Jan. 13, 2013, in Allahabad, India.

An Indian Hindu holy man, or Naga Sadhu, swings his head as he bathes at Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, during the royal bath on Makar Sankranti at the start of the Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, India, Jan. 14, 2013.

A foreign devotee prays at Sangam, the confluence of the Rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati on one of the most auspicious day Makar Sankranti, the first day of the Maha Kumbh Mela, in Allahabad, India, Jan. 14, 2013.

Indian Hindu holy men, or Sadhus, are silhouetted as they celebrate in the water at Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, during the royal bath on Makar Sankranti at the start of the Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, India, Jan. 14, 2013.

An Indian Hindu holy man performs morning prayers for devotees at Sangam, the confluence of the holy rivers Ganges and Yamuna and mythical Saraswati at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, India, Jan. 15, 2013.

An Indian Hindu, with one hand covered for counting prayers on beads, performs morning rituals at Sangam, the confluence of the holy rivers Ganges and Yamuna and mythical Saraswati at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, India, Jan. 15, 2013.