More than 500 million people have taken a "holy dip" in sacred river waters in north India over the last four weeks as part of the Hindu Maha Kumbh festival, authorities said on Friday, greater than the population of most countries.

A viral video shows a man taking his dog, Zorawar, for the holy dip at Triveni Sangam, despite initial plans to leave him at home.

Over 50 crore devotees have taken a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam till Friday evening during the ongoing Maha Kumbh, the Uttar Pradesh government said.

More than 10 million devout Hindus seeking absolution from their sins took a dip in holy waters in northern India during a span of four hours on Wednesday, authorities said, as they braced for millions more to swarm the site of the Kumbh Mela.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis accompanied by his family members took a holy dip at Triveni Sangam during Mahakumbh in Prayagraj on Friday. A video posted by news agency ANI on X shows CM Fadnavis taking a holy dip at Sangam along with his wife Amruta and daughter Divija.

Over 110 million individuals have taken a holy dip in the sacred waters of Prayagraj within the first 14 days alone

Over 50 crore devotees have taken a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam during the ongoing Maha Kumbh till Friday evening, which is more than the combined population of the US and Russia, the government said.

As the Amrit Snan began at the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela on Maghi Purnima on Wednesday morning, lakhs of people reached the Triveni Sangam ghat in Prayagraj to take the holy dip on the special occasion.