Pilgrims come to take a dip at Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and the legendary Saraswati river.
A naga sadhu, or a Hindu living saint, is dancing naked in a parade towards the Sangam.
Sadhus cover themselves with ash. According to statistics, about 150 million people participate in this traditional festival, of which about 1 million are tourists.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is overseeing the mega festival, said about 22.5 million Hindus took to the water on the first day of the Kumbh Mela.
A sadhu smokes in his hut. Many naga sadhus, or ascetics, who worship Shiva are under the control of monasteries and some live in remote caves.
The Kumbh Melumb lasts for 45 days. Millions of visitors believe that taking a dip in the holy waters will wash away their sins.
Image of believers from above.
A giant tent covering 45 square kilometers was erected by the riverbank to welcome the pilgrims.
Nearly 30,000 police were deployed to monitor the crowds and prevent stampedes that have occurred in the past.
The festival attracts a staggering number of visitors, far exceeding the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca or any other large-scale gathering. Organizers say the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad in 2013 attracted 120 million people – nearly the population of Japan.
Devotees of Shri Panchayati Naya Udasin Akhada ritually bathe their deity.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who leads the Bharatiya Janata Party that rules the state, sees the festival's success as a way to strengthen and protect the Hindu faith.
Sadhus take part in a parade before going to Sangnam for purification.
A female Sadhu participates in the water immersion ritual.
Transgender Kinnar Akhara devotees take first-ever dip at Kumbh Mela. The LGBT community still faces prejudice in a country with deep religious roots like India.
Nga Nguyen
- Source: The Guardian
#kumbh mela #India #festival #cleanse #Hinduism #believers #Pilgrimage #ascetic monk #LGBT #parade #tourists
SHARE THIS ARTICLE
RELATED ARTICLES
