India, Jan. 28 -- The Maha Kumbh Mela, one of the world's largest religious gatherings, is a celebration of faith, spirituality, and culture. Observed every 12 years, it rotates between four sacred sites: Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik. Millions of pilgrims gather to take a holy dip in the rivers believed to cleanse sins and grant liberation. Ahead of the shahi snan on Basant Panchami, here's a closer look at these sacred locations where the confluence of spirituality and tradition unfolds.

Prayagraj, in Uttar Pradesh, hosts the Maha Kumbh Mela at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers. Known as the Triveni Sangam, this site is considered the holiest of the four. Pilgrims believe that a dip here ...