A cooking gas cylinder exploded in a tent at the Digambar Ani Akhara at the Kumbh Mela site here on Monday, triggering a massive fire.

Makara Sankranti or Maghi, is a festival day in the Hindu calendar, in reference to deity Surya. The day marks the first day of sun's transit into the Makara, marking the end of the month with the winter solstice and the start of longer days.

The 55-day long Kumbh Mela will end on March 4. It is the largest human congregation in the world, with over 130 million pilgrims expected to participate in the festival with the belief that taking a dip in the holy water of Ganges River will pave the way for their salvation and would rid them of their sins.

Kumbh is the largest human congregation in the world, with lakhs of pilgrims participating in the festival with the belief that taking a dip in the holy water of Ganges River will pave the way for their salvation and would rid them of their sins

According to local authorities, approximately 1 lakh 17 thousand people offered prayers to Akshay Vat, a sacred fig tree mentioned in the Hindu mythology in Prayagra

Scores of devotees from across the country took a holy dip at Sangam Ghat on the occasion of Makar Sankranti in Kumbh Mela in Allahabad on Monday.

The 'Kinnar Akhada' on Sunday formally joined the 'Juna Akhada' to participate in the 'Shahi Snan' in the Kumbh Mela, which starts on Tuesday

The 'Kinnar Akhada' will continue to be a separate 'Akhada', but will participate with 'Juna Akhada' for the event at Kumbh.

"We are happy to be associated with 'Juna Akhada'," said Kinnar Akhada chief Mahamandaleshwar Laxmi Narayan Tripathi.

With a view to tracing the children lost during the massive Kumbh congregation, the Uttar Pradesh police will be using RFID (radio-frequency identification) tags for kids under 14 years.