In pictures: India's Kumbh Mela

1 of 7 A family watch as crowds gather for the month-long Hindu festival in Nashik in India's western state of Maharashtra

2 of 7 The first bathers take a dip in the Godavari River in Nashik

3 of 7 The festival takes place four times every 12 years at spots where gods are said to have spilt the nectar of immortality

4 of 7 Devotees are undeterred by the river waters which have been swollen by monsoon rains

5 of 7 The conch shell is a symbol of the Hindu Lord Krishna

6 of 7 Temples, statues and devotional images flood the city of Nashik

7 of 7 Priests are on hand to lead ceremonies and perform rituals for devotees