Magh Mela festival

Magh Mela, the annual month long Hindu religious fair, began January 5, 2015 and ends on February 17 in Allahabad, India. During Magh Mela, hundreds of thousands of devout Hindus camp and take a bath at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers during the astronomically auspicious period of over 45 days, hoping to rid themselves of their sins and attain prosperity. 

Below is a gallery of Associated Press' coverage of Magh Mela through the years.

India Hindu Ritual

Children attend a class at a camp organized by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, or World Hindu Council, the umbrella organization of Hindu nationalist groups at Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati during the annual month long Hindu religious fair of Magh Mela in Allahabad, India, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009. Magh Mela involves bathing on auspicious dates spread over a period of 45 days. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

INDIA HINDU FESTIVAL

An Indian Naga Sadhu, or Hindu holy man, performs yoga exercises on the banks of the River Ganges during the Magh Mela in Allahabad, India, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2006. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims take holy dips during the auspicious period of Magh Mela, hoping that their sins are washed away according to ancient Hindu scriptures. Written on wall in background is "Gangaraksha," or Ganga Protection. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

APTOPIX INDIA HINDU FESTIVAL

A man lowers his 17-month-old son Rahul for a holy dip in the River Ganges during the annual traditional fair of Magh Mela in Allahabad, India, Friday, Feb. 17, 2006. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims take holy dips during the auspicious period of Magh Mela, hoping that their sins are washed away according to ancient Hindu scriptures. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

India Hindu Festival

Hindu devotees dry their clothes after taking a dip in River Ganges, during the annual traditional fair of Magh Mela in Allahabad, India, Monday, Feb. 4, 2008. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

India Hindu Festival

A Hindu devotee dries clothes after taking a dip at the Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, during the annual traditional fair of Magh Mela in Allahabad, India, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2009. Hundreds of thousands of devout Hindus bathe at the confluence during the astronomically auspicious period of over 45 days celebrated as 'Magh Mela'. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

APTOPIX India Hindu Festival

Hindu devotee holds an oil lamp and offers prayers to the Sun god at the Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, on Makar Sankranti festival, that falls during the annual traditional fair of Magh Mela, in Allahabad, India, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012. Hundreds of thousands of devout Hindus take a bath at the confluence during the astronomically auspicious period of over 45 days celebrated as "Magh Mela" to rid themselves of their sins and attain prosperity. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

India Hindu Ritual

A shopkeeper waits in his shop as Hindu devotees arrive at the 'Sangam', the confluence of the Ganges Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, during the Basant Panchami festival that falls during the annual traditional fair of Magh Mela in Allahabad, India, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012. Basant Panchami, the fifth day of spring is celebrated by worshipping Hindu Goddess of knowledge and wisdom, Saraswati . Hundreds of thousands of devout Hindus bathe at the confluence during the astronomically auspicious period of over 45 days celebrated as 'Magh Mela'.(AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

India Hindu Festival

An elderlyHindu devotee prays as Rapid Action Force (RAF) soldiers patrol at Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganges and Yamuna on Makar Sankranti festival which also marks the beginning of Magh Mela in Allahabad, India, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014. Hundreds of thousands of devout Hindus are expected to take holy dips at the confluence during the astronomically auspicious period of over 45 days celebrated as Magh Mela that begins Tuesday. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

YE INDIA MAGH MELA

** FOR USE WITH YEAR END--FILE **Indian Hindu devotees use steel plates to give offering during a prayer at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers, during the annual traditional fair of Magh Mela in Allahabad, India, in this Jan. 21, 2006, file photo. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims take holy dips during the auspicious period of Magh Mela, hoping that their sins are washed away according to ancient Hindu scriptures. (AP Photo /Rajesh Kumar Singh/FILE)

INDIA HINDU FESTIVAL

Hindu devotees walk on the banks of the River Ganges after taking a holy dip during the annual traditional fair of Magh Mela in Allahabad, India, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2006. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims take holy dips during the auspicious period of Magh Mela, hoping that their sins are washed away according to ancient Hindu scriptures. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

APTOPIX India Hindu Festival

A Hindu holy man takes a dip at Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers on the auspicious day of Basant Pachami during the month long 'Magh Mela' in Allahabad, India, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010. Hundreds of thousands of devout Hindus take a bath at the confluence during the astronomically auspicious period of over 30 days celebrated as 'Magh Mela', to rid themselves of their sins and attain prosperity.(AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

APTOPIX India Hindu Festival

A Hindu holy man stands in the backdrop of a tent during the annual Magh Mela festival at Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganges and Yamuna, in Allahabad, India, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011. Hundreds of thousands of Hindu pilgrims take dips in the confluence, some hoping to wash away sins and others to secure a fine spouse during the month long festival. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

India Hindu Festival

Boatmen keep warm by a bonfire early morning at Sangam, the confluence of the Rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, on the first day of Magh Mela Festival in Allahabad, India, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014. Hundreds of thousands of devout Hindus take a holy bath at the confluence during the astronomically auspicious period of over 45 days celebrated as 'Magh Mela' to rid themselves of their sins and attain prosperity. (AP Photo/ Rajesh Kumar Singh)

India Hindu Festival

A Hindu holy man is reflected on a mirror as he prepares a bowl of vermillion powder for devotees near "Sangam", the confluence of holy rivers of Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, during the annual traditional fair of Magh Mela in Allahabad, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, India, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015. Hundreds of thousands of devout Hindus are expected to take holy dips at the confluence during the astronomically auspicious period of over 45 days celebrated as Magh Mela. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

India Hindu Festival

An Indian holy man returns after taking a holy dip at Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganges and Yamuna, during the annual month long Hindu religious fair ìMagh Melaî, in Allahabad, India, Monday, Jan. 5, 2015. Hundreds of thousands of devout Hindus camp and take a bath at the confluence during the astronomically auspicious period of over 45 days that begins on Jan. 5, hoping to rid themselves of their sins and attain prosperity. (AP Photo/ Rajesh Kumar Singh)

India Hindu Festival

Light shines from tents of Hindu devotees preparing their evening meal at "Sangam," the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna,and mythical Saraswati river, during the annual traditional fair ' Magh Mela' in Allahabad, India, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014. Hundreds of thousands of devout Hindus are expected to take holy dips at the confluence during the astronomically auspicious period of over 45 days celebrated as Magh Mela. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

India Hindu Festival

Indian Hindu priest rotates a traditional oil lamp in circular movements as he performs evening rituals at Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganges and Yamuna, during the annual month long Hindu religious fair ' Magh Mela' in Allahabad, India, Monday, Jan. 20, 2014. Hundreds of thousands of devout Hindus are expected to take a bath at the confluence during the astronomically auspicious period of over 45 days celebrated as 'Magh Mela' hoping to rid themselves of their sins and attain prosperity. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

APTOPIX India Hindu Festival

An Indian Hindu Holy man carries a glass as he walks out of his tent to perform a ritual ahead of the annual month long Hindu religious fair ìMagh Melaî, in Allahabad, India, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015. Hundreds of thousands of devout Hindus camp and take a bath at the confluence during the astronomically auspicious period of over 45 days that begins on Jan. 5, hoping to rid themselves of their sins and attain prosperity. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

India Hindu Festival

Indian Hindu devotees walk amid the bonfire smoke at the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati river, during the annual traditional fair of "Magh Mela" in Allahabad, India, Friday, Jan. 31, 2014. Hundreds of thousands of Hindu pilgrims take dips in the confluence, hoping to wash away sins during the month long festival. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

India Hindu Festival

Hindu pilgrims offer prayers after taking a holy dip at "Sangam," the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna river, on the auspicious "Paush Purnima" day which falls during the annual traditional fair of Magh Mela in Allahabad, India, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014. Hundreds of thousands of devout Hindus are expected to take holy dips at the confluence during the astronomically auspicious period of over 45 days celebrated as Magh Mela. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

India Hindu Festival

In this Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012 photo, Indian children dressed as Hindu God Shiva, right, and Parvati hold a toy gun as they pose for a photograph during the annual traditional fair of Magh Mela at the Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, in Allahabad, India, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012. Hundreds of thousands of devout Hindus take a bath at the confluence during the astronomically auspicious period of over 45 days celebrated as 'Magh Mela' to rid themselves of their sins and attain prosperity. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

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View the Magh Mela Festival collection

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