The Kumbh Mela derives from Hindu mythology, which holds that gods and demons struggled over a pitcher, or kumbh, containing the drink of immortality. As the gods raced toward heaven, drops of the sacred nectar spilled out onto four locations on the river: Allahabad, Ujjaink, Nashik and Haridwar. Today, the Kumbh Mela is held every three years, rotating among the four cities, meaning that each hosts every 12 years.

Tucked in the foothills of the Himalayas, Haridwar is a challenging place to host tens of millions of people. The Kumbh Mela is conducted in the middle of the city, and many pilgrims insist on taking their dip in the holiest spot, known as Har Ki Pauri, which is roughly the size of three Olympic swimming pools.

Authorities estimated that roughly 100,000 people an hour entered the water at Har Ki Pauri on Tuesday and Wednesday. Many pilgrims believe that a dip in this spot on the appointed day will allow them to break the cycle of reincarnation.

“This is Mother Ganga!” said Ramesh Varma, 23, dripping wet in his underwear after a dip. He traveled 10 hours by bus and then walked five hours to reach Har Ki Pauri. “The idea is that whatever sins you have are washed away. This is a new beginning of your life. This is what I feel.”

Based on the position of the sun, the moon and Jupiter, Wednesday was judged the most auspicious day for the bath. For days, pilgrims had poured into Har Ki Pauri until Wednesday morning, when the police cordoned it off to prepare for the arrival of the holy men.

Prahbu Nath Ohja, the officer appointed as liaison to the various sects, said authorities had hoped to avoid the problems that occurred in 1998 when the Kumbh Mela was last held in Haridwar: an angry scuffle broke out between the Juna and the Niranjani schools not long before the dip. To protest, both groups boycotted the bathing.

Image Haridwar is one of four cities that rotate as host for the Hindu festival. Credit... The New York Times

This year, Officer Ohja organized meetings with the 13 different religious schools, or akharas, mediated talks between the Juna and Niranjani and got leaders from all groups to agree on a strict bathing schedule at Har Ki Pauri.