Hindu act of faith draws millions

Pilgrims have arrived at the northern holy city of Haridwar for the festival which is held every three years [AFP]

The festival is rotated among four different Indian cities - Prayag, Ujjain and Nashik being the three others [AFP]

Pilgrims believe washing in the river cleanses them of sins, and thus makes them eligable for liberation from the cycle of life and death [AFP]

Haridwar is where the Ganges reaches the plains of India from the Himalayas [AFP]

Nearly eight million people converged on the banks of the river on Wednesday [AFP]

The festival began on January 13 and ends on April 28 [AFP]

Thousands of police were on alert for stampedes and funneled people into orderly lines to specially marked bathing areas [AFP]

The most auspicious days of the festival are the bathing days [AFP]

Pilgrims need to maintain pure lives after washing to remian free from the life-death cycle [AFP]