A fire has torn through at least 18 temporary tents at a massive Hindu festival thronged by millions of people in India’s northern Prayagraj city.

A large fire broke out at a Hindu religious festival, the Maha Kumbh Mela, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, but the blaze was quickly brought under control and no injuries were reported,

Over the coming 45 days, an estimated 400 million Hindus are expected to come together for Maha Kumbh Mela. The festival is held every 12 years but the "Maha" or grand Kumbh Mela takes place only every 144 years, "marking the 12th Kumbh Mela and a special celestial alignment of the sun, moon and Jupiter", said The Guardian.

Swami Bhupender Giri, centre, Naga Sadhu of Niranjani Akhara, arrives for ritualistic dip at Sangam, the confluence of the Rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati on one of the most auspicious day Makar Sankranti,

India began on Monday its Maha Kumbh Mela, or Great Pitcher Festival, which is expected to draw more than 400 million visitors to the northern city of Prayagraj over six weeks, making for the largest gathering of humanity in the world.

A fire broke out at the Kumbh Mela festival in India on Sunday. A gas cylinder exploded, sparking a blaze that burned at least 18 tents. Fortunately, there were no injuries. The Hindu pilgrimage festival takes place every twelve years and is the largest in the world,

A fire tore through at least 18 temporary tents at a massive Hindu festival thronged by millions of people in India’s northern Prayagraj city, officials said Sunday.