At least 27 people were killed in separate incidents while taking dip in rivers on the occasion of Ganga Dussehra in Uttar Pradesh, police said Monday.

The annual festival, which is celebrated as the day when the Ganga river is believed to have to descended on the earth, saw lakhs of devotees take dip Sunday in various rivers across Uttar Pradesh.

At least 27 bodies were recovered while 39 were reported drowned during the festivities. Three people were saved by divers and nine people were still missing, police said.

Bodies were found at various ghats in Budaun district and Beladandi village.

People also drowned in the Yamuna and Ganga rivers in Mathura, Kasganj and Agra districts, police said.