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Millions bathe in India's Ganges | Millions bathe in India's Ganges |
(3 days later) | |
Several million Hindu pilgrims have been bathing in India's Ganges river at Allahabad for a key festival. | Several million Hindu pilgrims have been bathing in India's Ganges river at Allahabad for a key festival. |
Five million people are expected to have taken the ritual cleansing plunge into the river by the end of Monday. | Five million people are expected to have taken the ritual cleansing plunge into the river by the end of Monday. |
Sunday and Monday are among the most auspicious bathing days in the 45-day Ardh Kumbh Mela festival as the sun enters the Tropic of Capricorn. | Sunday and Monday are among the most auspicious bathing days in the 45-day Ardh Kumbh Mela festival as the sun enters the Tropic of Capricorn. |
The Ganges was flushed with fresh water after holy men threatened a boycott, saying its waters were too polluted. | The Ganges was flushed with fresh water after holy men threatened a boycott, saying its waters were too polluted. |
I am here to wash away my sins - the sins I accumulated in my life so that I can die as a pious soul Pilgrim Hari Om Sharma class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/6230871.stm"> Mela: Facts and maps | |
The holy men, or sadhus, led the way into the river, to the sound of drumming and chanting. | The holy men, or sadhus, led the way into the river, to the sound of drumming and chanting. |
Many wore saffron robes, and many carried tridents in their hands. | Many wore saffron robes, and many carried tridents in their hands. |
Hindus believe that bathing at Sangam, the confluence of three holy rivers - Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati - can wash away their sins and break the cycle of reincarnation. | Hindus believe that bathing at Sangam, the confluence of three holy rivers - Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati - can wash away their sins and break the cycle of reincarnation. |
"My mind is now totally clean and without any malice after I came here and had a bath," one pilgrim told the BBC. | "My mind is now totally clean and without any malice after I came here and had a bath," one pilgrim told the BBC. |
Pitcher battle | Pitcher battle |
Water from canals and dams upstream was released to clean the river at the northern city of Allahabad to pacify the sadhus, some of whom had threatened to kill themselves. | Water from canals and dams upstream was released to clean the river at the northern city of Allahabad to pacify the sadhus, some of whom had threatened to kill themselves. |
Many were naked except for the ash they smeared on their bodies | Many were naked except for the ash they smeared on their bodies |
Offerings cast into the river and waste and sewage dumped into it have polluted the river over many years. | Offerings cast into the river and waste and sewage dumped into it have polluted the river over many years. |
Astrologers are divided on the most auspicious time of planetary alignment but millions of Hindu devotees are expected to bathe late on Sunday and early Monday. | Astrologers are divided on the most auspicious time of planetary alignment but millions of Hindu devotees are expected to bathe late on Sunday and early Monday. |
The Ardh Kumbh Mela, which began on 3 January, is one of the largest gatherings on Earth, with some 60m Hindus expected to attend over the 45-day period. | The Ardh Kumbh Mela, which began on 3 January, is one of the largest gatherings on Earth, with some 60m Hindus expected to attend over the 45-day period. |
It is a smaller version of the Kumbh Mela, or Pitcher Festival, which takes place every 12 years. | It is a smaller version of the Kumbh Mela, or Pitcher Festival, which takes place every 12 years. |
According to Hindu mythology, gods and demons fought a celestial war over a pitcher of divine nectar. Allahabad is one of the four towns where drops of nectar fell during the battle. | According to Hindu mythology, gods and demons fought a celestial war over a pitcher of divine nectar. Allahabad is one of the four towns where drops of nectar fell during the battle. |
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