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The world's biggest gathering humanity took place yesterday the banks of India's River Ganges. to 30 million people took part a pilgrimage known as the Kumbh Mela. Hindu devotees have been travelling across India since the opening day the festival on January the 14th. Then, just a modest eight million took a dip the holy waters a town called Sangam. This is where the Ganges and Yamuna rivers merge. to 100 million people will make their way Sangam to bathe the sacred waters during the 55-day event. This year is a special one, known as a Maha Kumbh Mela, which happens only once every 144 years. Hindus believe that bathing the rivers will cleanse their sins and bring salvation.

Security has been particularly tight this Kumbh Mela due record numbers attendees and the execution Saturday one those who attacked the Indian parliament 2001. Kashmiri Afzal Guru was hanged the capital New Delhi his part the attack. Militants had promised to disrupt the Mela causing a stampede. As a precaution, Indian police laid on thousands of extra officers to look for suspected terrorists. They also set up increased numbers surveillance cameras. Meanwhile, a request went to Indian celebrities to not visit the Mela the busiest time. A police spokesman said the excitement created a leading Bollywood actor or a popular singer could have resulted a potentially deadly surge.