|
Millions [400] start bathing in holy rivers at India's biggest Hindu festival
[BBC] Millions of people have taken a holy bath at the Hindu festival of Kumbh Mela (also known as Mahakumbh) - described as humanity's biggest gathering - in northern India's Prayagraj city on Monday.The event - held once every 12 years - starts on Monday and over the next six weeks, the devout will bathe at Sangam - the confluence of India's most sacred Ganges river with the Yamuna river and the mythical Saraswati. Hindus believe that taking a dip in the sacred river will cleanse them of sins, purify their soul and liberate them from the cycle of birth and death - as the ultimate goal of Hinduism is salvation. About 400 million pilgrims are expected to attend the 45-day spectacle, which is so large it can be seen from space. In photos: World's biggest religious festival begins in India WATCH: Sea of humanity at world's largest religious gathering Authorities said that on Monday, until 4pm local time, 16 million people had taken a bath. On Tuesday, numbers are expected to exceed 20 million, and the spectacle will be special as it will see ash-smeared naked Hindu holy men with matted dreadlocks, known as Naga sadhus, take a dip at dawn. But authorities are racing against time to get the city ready to host millions who will continue to pour in throughout the festival. Posted by: Skidmark 2025-01-14 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=735173 |