The Hindu festival of Kumbh Mela, considered the largest human gathering on the planet, began in northern India on Monday with thousands of pilgrims flocking to the holy confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and Sarasvati rivers.

Vast crowds of Hindu pilgrims in India bathed in sacred waters as the Kumbh Mela festival opened on Monday, with organisers expecting 400 million people -- the world's largest gathering of humanity -- to assemble over six weeks.India is the world's most populous nation, with 1.4 billion people, and so is used to large crowds.

The Kumbh Mela has grown over the years and has transformed from a religious gathering to much more. It provides a perfect combination of spirituality, adventure, and cultural diversity that makes it a very attractive destination for the young crowd.

India began on Monday its Maha Kumbh Mela, or Great Pitcher Festival, which is expected to draw more than 400 million visitors to the northern city of Prayagraj over six weeks, making for the largest gathering of humanity in the world.

Hari Om, India’s pioneering devotional OTT platform, has announced a unique initiative to distribute free subscriptions to devotees at the Maha Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest spiritual gathering. Scheduled from January 13 to February 26,

Over about the next six weeks, Hindu pilgrims will gather at the confluence of three sacred rivers where they will take part in elaborate rituals.