South India's Kumbh Mela begins

The 10-day long Kumbh mela in south India, called Mahamaham, began in Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday morning with temple flags being hoisted after poojas.

Thousands of devotees and several mutt heads, including Kanchi seer Sri Jayendra Saraswati, undertook a holy dip in the Mahamaham tank at 9am. Wednesday was the first day that devotees have been allowed to take a holy dip in the recently renovated tank.

Earlier, poojas were performed to propitiate various gods, including Lord Ganesha.

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