The Kumbh Mela began on Tuesday with a Shahi Snan as devotees led by naked, ash-smeared seers took the first holy dip chanting Lord Shiva’s name early in the morning into the cold water of the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati. The Shahi Snan also marks the harvest festival of Makar Sankranti.

Officials said around 35 lakh devotees took the holy dip on Monday at 35 bathing ghats roughly stretched over an area of 5.5 km in the mela area.