[Prev][Next][Index]
Quarter of million Hindu faithfu
Quarter of million Hindu faithful bathe in Ganges
(Adds detail in 6th para on timing of festival)
By Sharat Pradhan
ALLAHABAD, India, Jan 15 (Reuter) - The world's largest gathering of
people began at the weekend when a quarter of a million Hindu faithful
stepped into India's holy Ganges river to wash away their sins.
Men, women and children marched down the banks of the slow flowing river
in the northern city of Allahabad into hired boats which took them to the
holy confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers.
There, in a centuries-old Hindu ritual, they braved chill weather and
thick fog to immerse themselves. Most wore clothing but some like the Naga
Hindu congregation took it all off.
More than 45 million Hindus are expected to take a dip during the 40-day
festival which began on Saturday.
Bathing at the holy confluence is considered sacred at any time of the
year.
But either the great ``Kumbh'' or lesser ``Ardh Kumbh'' (half Kumbh)
festival, set by astrologers, falls only once every six years and is
considered the most auspicious times for bathing. This year the Ardh Kumbh
began at the weekend.
Hundreds of barbers along the river bank busily shaved the heads of
faithful men and children, who regard the immersion of one's hair as a major
offering. The shaving is followed by rituals and prayers, then the holy dip.
Hindu scriptures say the festival dates back to the origin of the earth
when gods and demons, after stirring the oceans, squabbled over who would get
holy ``amrit,'' or nectar, one drop of which guaranteed immortality.
Lord Vishnu transformed himself into a woman to distract the demons, who
wanted the nectar for themselves, and offer the holy liquid to the gods.
But the demons chased the gods, who spilled drops of amrit in four places
-- Allahabad, Nasik, Haridwar and Ujjain -- where bathing has since been
considered a sacred rite.
Some 500 pundits, or learned men, keep family records of each pilgrim to
have bathed at the Allahabad site.
The gathering is the largest in the world, according to Devendra Dube,
deputy director of information for the state of Uttar Pradesh.
A huge tent city sprawls over 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) to shelter the
pilgrims, and more than 10,000 police have been deployed, festival police
chief C.P. Singh said.
The most auspicious bathing day is January 30, when as many as 20 million
people are expected to converge on the site, said the festival's chief
executive officer, L.B. Tiwari.
REUTER
Transmitted: 95-01-15 06:40:33 EST
