Thousands of devotees, including ash-smeared holy Hindu men, took a dip in the waters on the banks of the sacred Godavari river, during the second royal bath (shahi snan) ritual of the Kumbh Mela on Sunday in Nashik.
The ritual royal bath is said to be timed to match an auspicious planetary alignment, when believers say spiritual energy flows to earth.
These baths are a high-point of the festival.The next and the final bath is scheduled for September 18.
The Nashik Municipal Cooperation and several social organisations have deployed swimmers to assist devotees while taking dip. A life protection squad has also been deployed along the banks of the reservoir to prevent accidents. The devotees took their first dip on August 29.