Indian farmer Govind Singh travelled for nearly two days by train to reach what he believes is the “land of the gods” – just one among legions of Hindu pilgrims joining the largest gathering of humanity.
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Thousands of years old, Kumbh Mela, a sacred show of religious piety and ritual bathing that opens on Monday, is held at the site where the holy Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers meet.
This edition of the mega fair, in the north Indian city of Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh state, is believed to be the biggest ever.
Organisers expect up to 400 million pilgrims from India and beyond over six weeks, running from January 13 to February 26.
“It feels great to be in the land of the gods for the Kumbh Mela,” said the 53-year-old Singh, who came from a village in Madhya Pradesh state, a journey of more than 600 kilometres.
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“I will stay as long as the gods want me to.”