30 million pilgrims gathered to bathe at the Ganges and Yamuna rivers at sunset yesterday to celebrate Kumbh Mela, the holiest day of India. The Hindu festival is held every 12 years and this year’s installment expects to receive 100 million bathers over the course of the 55 day festival.
The Hindu religion believes that bathing in the Sangam, where the Ganges and Yumuna rivers meet, cleanses their sins and helps bring them salvation. Dressed in saffron, pilgrims danced and beat drums.
A young pilgrim, Ashutosh Pandey, said this about the auspicious bathing.
When I bathe I am praying to God for the good of my country and the world.
Devotees believe that the festival began when gods and demons fought over a pitcher of nectar, and a few drops fell in the cities of Allahabad, Nasik, Ujjain and Haridwar. The festival has been held at these cities for centuries.
[Source: BBC News India]
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