Thousands of Hindus ‘cleanse their sins’ at riverside Indian festival

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  Indian pilgrims take holy dips in the Godavari River.

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  Hindu pilgrims offer prayers to an idol of monkey God Hanuman.

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  Millions are expected to attend this year’s two-month festival, which began in mid-July and runs until the end of September.

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  Indian devotees perform rituals as they take holy dips in the Godavari River

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  Thousands of devout Hindus splash into the west Indian river for the first official day Wednesday of bathing at one of the country’s largest festivals.

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  Bathing in sacred waters on the most auspicious day of the Kumbh festival, or Pitcher Festival, believers say rids them of their sins.

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  Wednesday marked the first day of bathing for those attending this year’s festival on the banks of the Godavari River in Maharashtra state.

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  Indian devotees ‘cleanse their sins’ as they perform rituals while taking holy dips in the Godavari River.

Tens of thousands of Hindus immerse themselves in Godavari river for Kumbh Mela, or ‘pitcher festival’, believeing it will cleanse them of their sins.

The festival has its roots in a Hindu tradition that says Lord Vishnu wrested a golden pot from demons containing the nectar of immortality. Four drops fell to the earth -- one of them in Nasik.

All photos: Tsering Topgyal / AP Photo