The eagerly awaited Maha Kumbh festival has begun in Prayagraj, India, with the auspicious Paush Purnima being celebrated on Monday. Millions of devotees took a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam - where the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers converge - to seek spiritual blessings and cleanse their sins. The 45-day long event is estimated to attract a record-breaking 40 crore people from all over the world, making it the largest ever gathering of its kind. Tight security measures are being implemented to ensure the peaceful conduct of rituals and the safety of devotees.