A 118-member delegation which includes Heads of Mission (HoM) and their spouses as well as diplomats from a total of 77 countries arrived in Prayagraj to attend the ongoing Maha Kumbh festival.

Slovak Ambassador to India, Robert Maxian, congratulated the Indian government for organising the festival which is the largest religious congregation in the world.

“I am very excited. I want to congratulate your government for organising this great spiritual event… I am a fan of India. India is like my second home,” he told ANI.

Mariano Caucino, Ambassador of Argentina to India, also expressed happiness after attending the event.

“I am very happy to take part in this important ceremony and follow the traditions,” he told the news agency.

Stella Nkomo, Zimbabwe ambassador to India, told ANI: "Diplomatic life is also about pursuing cultural and public diplomacy. This is a cultural diplomacy where we seek to understand India deeply… We are grateful to the Uttar Pradesh state for hosting us.”

Thousands of devotees from across India and pilgrims from several nations have been visiting Prayagraj since last month to attend the event.

The devotees aim to take a dip in the sacred confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mystical Saraswati.

The festival began from January 13 and will continue till February 26.