For Sadhus, the holy men, the festival is particularly important and may help them to escape effects of karma

travel to the site to pray and bathe in the river during the auspicious dates to cleanse their sins


Out of the thousands of Hindus gathered at the banks of northern India's Triveni Sangam, just outside of the city of Allahabad, one man stood out.

The Sadhu, or holy man, swung his ten-foot-long dreads through the air like heavy chains as he stood knee-deep in the cold river water wearing nothing but a pair of saffron briefs.

His dramatic display is part of the holy dip of Magh Mela, a lengthy festival with more than 1,000 years of history that celebrates the beginning of the universe and the holy site.

Extreme bathing: A Sadhu (pictured), or holy man, swings his long dreads as he bathes in the river at Triveni Sangam in northern India

Swoosh! The man's dramatic stance is part of his holy dip for Magh Mela, an annual festival that celebrates the beginning of the universe

Religion: Thousands of Hindus will have gathered at the site for the festival with the holy men (pictured above) taking pride of place

The festival takes place each year in the month of Magh, as dictated by the Hindu astrological calendar.

This year, the festival began on January 15 and will continue until March 7.

The length of the festival fluctuates between 40 to 50 days, centred around six different auspicious dates as divined by the priests according to the cycle of the moon.

On those auspicious dates, the Hindu devotees will bathe in the river in droves at sun rise to cleanse themselves of their sins.

For some Hindus, it's not only a way to get rid of sin but it will also help them escape karma and be reunited with their supreme soul.

The location is important.

Triveni Sangam is the confluence point of three holy rivers - the Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical, and invisible, river of Saraswati.

Cleanse: Hindus believe that bathing at sun rise in the holy river during the festival will help them cleanse their sins and escape karma

Annual gathering: The festival takes place each year in the month of Magh, as dictated by the Hindu astrological calendar. This year, the festival began on January 15 and will continue until March 7

Lengthy celebration: The length of the festival fluctuates between 40 to 50 days, centred around six different auspicious dates as divined by the priests according to the cycle of the moon

Decoration: As well as prayers and bathing, the holy men will cover themselves in ash as well as decorative paint during the festival

According to legends, Saraswati flows under ground and emerges to join the other two rivers at Triveni Sangam.

Triveni Sangam is also said to be one of the places where nectar of the gods dripped from a pitcher on to the earth as the demons fought the gods, making it a very holy site.

The ashes of several national leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi, were scattered at this point.

Pilgrims who come for the festival would camp along its banks each night, with some staying for the full duration.

For the Sadhus, who already live a life of relative poverty and celibacy, the festival is of particular importance.

During this time, they will take only one meal each day and spend much of their time praying.

Some will bathe daily and paint their body with ash.

Every 12 years, Magh Mela at Allahabad is celebrated as an even bigger festival - Kumbh Mela. And once every 144 years, there is a Maha Kumbh Mela.

The bigger festival attracts millions of bathers as they are considered more important dates.

In 2013, the last Maha Kumbh Mela, an estimated 100 million Hindus attended the festival.

Holy: Triveni Sangam is also said to be one of the places where nectar of the gods dripped from a pitcher on to the earth as the demons fought the gods, making it a very holy site

A festival of equals: Both men and women attend the festival. Pilgrims who come for the festival would camp along its banks each night, with some staying for the full duration