Indians are flocking to the Ganges River for the Hindu festival of Kumbh Mela despite the country being in the midst of a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases. Millions of Hindus arrived in the northern city of Haridwar to bathe in the Ganges, as they believe bathing in the holy river will cleanse them of their sins and bring salvation. However, the religious day has coincided with India overtaking Brazil to become the world’s second-worst COVID-19 affected country and with social distancing impossible on the banks of the river, cases are expected to spike further.