Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took holy dips in sacred river waters in the northern city of Prayagraj on Wednesday as he joined millions of people at the Maha Kumbh Mela, a week after dozens died in a stampede at the event.

The man appears in a silhouette after rising from the river. His dreadlocked hair is flicked backwards, sending a stream of water in a clockwise swirl. Others surround him, with some holding the saffron flag of Hinduism,

The world's largest religious gathering, the Maha Kumbh Mela in northern India, turned deadly Wednesday, with officials confirming at least 30 deaths and 60 people injured in a stampede on the biggest day of the festival.

More than seven people were killed in a stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela, or Great Pitcher Festival, in the northern Indian holy city of Prayagraj on Wednesday.

PM Narendra Modi took a dip in the waters of Triveni Sangam on Wednesday to the accompaniment of Vedic hymns, becoming one with crores of pilgrims who have trooped to Maha Kumbh every day since Jan 13 to experience what he described as "a moment of divine connection".

Modi took a boat ride from Arail Ghat to the Triveni Sangam; along the route, he acknowledged the greetings of the crowd that had lined up on both sides of the riverbank