Hindu bathing festival draws millions

Hindu bathing festival draws millions

Millions of people have joined a 45-day Hindu bathing festival in the northern Indian city of Prayagraj, where devotees take a dip at Sangam, the sacred confluence of several rivers. There, they bathe on certain days considered to be auspicious in the belief that they will be cleansed of all sins. 

Rows and rows of colorful tents, in which the devotees stay, line the sprawling festival site. Millions of Hindus travel every year to the event, called Magh Mela, where pilgrims offer prayers and enter the holy waters where the Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers meet.

Devotees and pilgrims eat at a langar or a free food camp at Sangam during Magh mela festival, in Prayagraj, India, Feb. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

Devotees and pilgrims eat at a langar or a free food camp at Sangam during Magh mela festival, in Prayagraj, India, Feb. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

A Hindu priest prepares vermillion paste for pilgrims at Sangam during Magh mela festival, in Prayagraj, India, Feb. 19, 2021.. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

A Hindu priest prepares vermillion paste for pilgrims at Sangam during Magh mela festival, in Prayagraj, India, Feb. 19, 2021.. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

A sadhu or a hindu holy man smokes after a holy dip at sangam during Magh mela festival, in Prayagraj, India on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

A sadhu or a hindu holy man smokes after a holy dip at sangam during Magh mela festival, in Prayagraj, India on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

In Hinduism, this period is called Kalpvas and the devotees who choose to stay for the entire time are known as Kalpvasis. They give up their daily routine and instead camp at the site, living on frugal meals and performing rituals. 

Virender Kumar Shukla, a Kalpvasi devotee, is attending for the fifth time. He said he hopes by offering prayers to “find a place in heaven” and earn “a better rebirth.”

Devotees take holy dip at Sangam during Magh mela festival, in Prayagraj, India, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

Authorities took months to build what looks like a temporary tented city on the river banks. Police patrol the site and floating bridges were built to help people get from one side of the river to the other. Boats ferry pilgrims from the bank of the Yamuna to the Sangam, where they bathe in the holy water and offer their prayers. 

The festival is being held even though COVID-19 cases in some parts of the country are rising after months of steady nationwide decline. India has confirmed 10.8 million cases and over 150,000 deaths. 

Health officials have told local media that they have tested tens of thousands of pilgrims for the virus since the festival began on Jan. 14. It is set to end on Feb. 27. 

A health worker takes nasal samples of Sadhus or Hindu holy men for COVID 19 test next to a poster of Hindu God Hanuman during Magh mela festival, in Prayagraj, India, Feb. 24, 2021 (AP P.hoto/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

Devotees take holy dips at sangam during Magh mela festival, in Prayagraj, India on Feb. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

A Hindu Holyman smeared his hair with ash after a holy dip at Sangam, the sacred confluence of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati during Math mela festival, in Prayagraj, India. Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

Hindu Holy men prepare their food on the bank of the river Ganges during Magh mela festival, in Prayagraj, India, Feb. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

A Hindu Holman lies in front of Hindu Goddess of learning Saraswati, at Sangam, the sacred confluence of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati during Math mela festival, in Prayagraj, India, Feb. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

Hindu Holy men pray on the bank off the river Ganges during Magh mela festival, in Prayagraj, India. Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

A Hindu holy man or a sadhu watches as pilgrims walk past during Magh mela festival, in Prayagraj, India on Tuesday, Feb.16, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

A family takes a selfie a holy dip at Sangam during Magh mela festival, in Prayagraj, India, Feb. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

Women devotees pray to a calf after a holy dip at Sangam during Magh mela festival, in Prayagraj, India, Feb. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

A Hindu Holy man or a Sadhu prays as other showers flower petals on him during Math mela festival, in Prayagraj, India, Feb. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

Devotees arrive at Sangam, the sacred confluence of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati for Magh mela festival, in Prayagraj, India, Feb. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

A pilgrim prays during Magh mela festival, in Prayagraj, India. Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)


Text from AP News story, AP PHOTOS: Hindu bathing festival draws millions, by Rajesh Kumar Singh.