Thousands of nude Hindu priests plunged in a pool of water in the early hours to take a holy dip, kickstarting a series of such baths in this western Indian town which form part of the Kumbh Mela (Nectar Pot Fair). Chanting the name of the Hindu god Shiva, the priests walked into the pool from various streets of the town in long unending queues led by religious leaders. "Har Har Mahadev" (Victory to lord Shiva) reverberated through the early morning air in this town as authorities, policemen and lifeguards struggled to control the rising numbers of priests. Most of the priests, numbered in the thousands, were largely nude or wearing only a piece of saffron cloth as they took their swim.

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