On the occasion of Maha Shivratri, devotees at the Kumbh Mela took the first auspicious 'Shahi Snan' in the Ganga river in Haridwar in the early hours of Thursday.
Scores of devotees dotted the Har Ki Pauri ghat of the river for the ritual.
Special arrangements have been made to ensure surveillance, including CCTV cameras and drones. The bathing time for the Akharas is from 8 am to 5 pm.