Large crowds turned out in northern India on Wednesday for the last day of the six-week Maha Kumbh Mela that drew a total of 663 million people seeking absolution of their sins by taking a dip in waters that devout Hindus consider sacred.

After six long weeks, India's Maha Kumbh Mela has wrapped up, drawing close to 650 million devotees in total. On the last day of the world’s largest religious gathering, additional forces were deployed along the river banks,

India's Kumbh Mela festival wraps up Wednesday, with final ritual river bathing ceremonies ending six weeks of celebration that organisers say have been attended by hundreds of millions of devotees.

Huge crowds cover the shores of the Indian Ganges river as devotees take a final sacred dip of the Kumbh Mela festival. According to the Uttar Pradesh state government, more than 640 million people took part in the festival,