More than 500 million people have taken a "holy dip" in sacred river waters in north India over the last four weeks as part of the Hindu Maha Kumbh festival, authorities said on Friday, greater than the population of most countries.

The Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 is the largest spiritual gathering in the world that is currently underway in Prayagraj from January 13 to February 26 across 45 days

Over 50 crore devotees have taken a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam during the ongoing Maha Kumbh till Friday evening, which is more than the combined population of the US and Russia, the government said.

More than 10 million devout Hindus seeking absolution from their sins took a dip in holy waters in northern India during a span of four hours on Wednesday, authorities said, as they braced for millions more to swarm the site of the Kumbh Mela.

The man appears in a silhouette after rising from the river. His dreadlocked hair is flicked backwards, sending a stream of water in a clockwise swirl. Others surround him, with some holding the saffron flag of Hinduism,

The 50 crore footfall marks the largest congregation in human history for any religious, cultural, or social event, claims UP government.

BJP National Vice President and Mahbubnagar MP D.K. Aruna participated in the Maha Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh and took a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam along with her family members.

Over 110 million individuals have taken a holy dip in the sacred waters of Prayagraj within the first 14 days alone

As the Amrit Snan began at the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela on Maghi Purnima on Wednesday morning, lakhs of people reached the Triveni Sangam ghat in Prayagraj to take the holy dip on the special occasion.