Hindu Devotees Gather For The Maha Kumbh

Author: jone Date: 14 November, Category: Fact, Visits 2453

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Workers fix a lightpost, one of many that will illuminate the vast grounds receiving the millions of Hindu devotees that will congregate here for the next couple of months to celebrate the Kumbh Mela, in Allahabad on January 13, 2013. Worshippers, believe a dip in the holy waters cleanses them of their sins. The Kumbh Mela in northern India, starting on January 14 and stretching over 55 days, attracts ash-covered holy men who run into the frigid waters, a smattering of international celebrities, as well as millions upon millions of ordinary Indians to Allahabad. (Photo by Roberto Schmidt/AFP Photo)

Hindu devotees arrive to attend the first [Shahi Snan] (grand bath) at the ongoing [Kumbh Mela], or Pitcher Festival, in the northern Indian city of Allahabad January 14, 2013. Upwards of a million elated Hindu holy men and pilgrims took a bracing plunge in India's sacred Ganges river to wash away lifetimes of sins on Monday, in a raucous start to an ever-growing religious gathering that is already the world's largest. (Photo by Ahmad Masood/Reuters)

A Sadhu or a Hindu holy brandishes a sword as he attends the first [Shahi Snan] (grand bath) at the ongoing [Kumbh Mela], or Pitcher Festival, in the northern Indian city of Allahabad January 14, 2013. Upwards of a million elated Hindu holy men and pilgrims took a bracing plunge in India's sacred Ganges river to wash away lifetimes of sins on Monday, in a raucous start to an ever-growing religious gathering that is already the world's largest. (Photo by Ahmad Masood/Reuters)

[Taponidhi Shree Anand Akhadaa Panchayati ]. (Photo by Kumbhmelaallahabad.gov.in)

A Sadhu or a Hindu holy man prays as he takes a dip during the first [Shahi Snan] (grand bath) at the ongoing [Kumbh Mela], or Pitcher Festival, in the northern Indian city of Allahabad January 14, 2013. Upwards of a million elated Hindu holy men and pilgrims took a bracing plunge in India's sacred Ganges river to wash away lifetimes of sins on Monday, in a raucous start to an ever-growing religious gathering that is already the world's largest. (Photo by Ahmad Masood/Reuters)

A man, dressed as Hindu Goddess Kali, participates in a religious procession towards the Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, as part of the Mahakumbh festival in Allahabad, India, Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013. Millions of Hindu pilgrims are expected to take part in the large religious congregation on the banks of Sangam during the Mahakumbh festival in January 2013, which falls every 12th year. (Photo by Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP Photo)

A man dressed as Hindu goddess Kali, the goddess of power, performs with a burning camphor tablet on his tongue during a religious procession ahead of the [Kumbh Mela], or Pitcher Festival, in the northern Indian city of Allahabad January 6, 2013. During the festival, hundreds of thousands of Hindus take part in a religious gathering at the banks of the river Ganges. The festival is held every 12 years in different Indian cities. (Photo by Jitendra Prakash/Reuters)

A Sadhu, or a Hindu holy man, performs morning prayers on the banks of the river Ganges ahead of the [Kumbh Mela] (Pitcher Festival) in the northern Indian city of Allahabad January 13, 2013. During the festival, Hindus take part in a religious gathering on the banks of the river Ganges. [Kumbh Mela] will return to Allahabad in 12 years. (Photo by Ahmad Masood/Reuters)

A Hindu devotee holds a prayer bead on the banks of the river Ganges ahead of the [Kumbh Mela] (Pitcher Festival) in the northern Indian city of Allahabad January 13, 2013. During the festival, Hindus take part in a religious gathering on the banks of the river Ganges. The [Kumbh Mela] will return to Allahabad in 12 years. (Photo by Ahmad Masood/Reuters)

Indian Hindu holy men, or Naga Sadhus, run naked into the water at Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati river, during the royal bath on Makar Sankranti at the start of the Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, India, Monday, Jan. 14, 2013. Millions of Hindu pilgrims are expected to take part in the large religious congregation that lasts more than 50 days on the banks of Sangam which falls every 12 years. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/AP Photo)

A devotee has river water poured over his head at the waters edge at the Sangham or confluence of the Yamuna and Ganges river in the early morning at the Kumbh Mela celebration in Allahabad on January 13, 2013. Worshippers believe a dip in the holy waters cleanses them of their sins. The Kumbh Mela in northern India, starting January 13 and stretching over 55 days, attracts ash-covered holy men who run into the frigid waters, a smattering of international celebrities, as well as millions upon millions of ordinary Indians to Allahabad, at the confluence of the rivers Yamuna and Ganges. (Photo by Roberto Schmidt/AFP Photo)

Indian Hindu holy men, or Sadhus, arrive at Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, ahead of the Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, India, Sunday Jan. 13, 2013. Millions of Hindu pilgrims are expected to take part in the large religious congregation of a period of over a month on the banks of Sangam during the Maha Kumbh Mela in January 2013, which falls every 12th year. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/AP Photo)

A Hindu priest holds an oil lamp as he performs evening prayers near the banks of river Ganges ahead of the [Kumbh Mela] (Pitcher Festival) in the northern Indian city of Allahabad January 12, 2013. During the festival, Hindus take part in a religious gathering on the banks of the river Ganges. [Kumbh Mela] will return to Allahabad in 12 years. (Photo by Ahmad Masood/Reuters)

Foreign Hindu devotees (centre L) listen to a motorcyclist for directions ahead of the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad on January 9, 2013. The Kumbh Mela, which is scheduled to take place in the northern Indian city in January and February 2013, is the world's largest gathering of people for a religious purpose and millions of people gather for this auspicious occasion. (Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/AFP Photo)