Millions of Hindu devotees enter river Ganges for festival of Kumbh Mela

Millions of Hindu devotees gathered on the banks of the river Ganges to perform ablutions for the major holiday of Kumbh Mela.

Millions of Hindu devotees gathered on the banks of the river Ganges to perform ablutions for the major holiday of Kumbh Mela.

Footage showing worshippers at Haridwar on March 11 entering the river waters as part of the religious rituals.

All participants at this year's Kumbh Mela event are required to present a negative coronavirus test result before being allowed into the festival grounds.

However there was little evidence of social distancing in place as bathers jostled at the riverbank.

Around 5000 security personnel, hundreds of CCTVs and drones have been deployed by the Haridwar Kumbh Mela administration for surveillance.