Sea of humanity as Hindus gather for world鈥檚 largest festival in India
Print Edition
The largest gathering of humanity on the planet began yesterday, with tens of millions showered in rose petals and holy ash at a spectacular Hindu festival on India鈥檚 sacred riverbanks.
The Kumbh Mela, or the Pitcher Festival, is expected to attract more than 100 million pilgrims to Allahabad over the next seven weeks to bathe in waters considered among the holiest in Hinduism.
Allahabad rises alongside the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, and the banks of these hallowed rivers have transformed into a riot of color for the centuries-old festival.
A gigantic tent city has emerged near the confluence of the rivers, where Hindus believe bathing during the Kumbh helps cleanse sins and brings salvation.
Before dawn thousands of naked holy men smeared in ash, some on horseback, proceeded toward the rivers鈥 meeting point known as 鈥淪angam.鈥
The 鈥淣aga Sadhus鈥 plunged into the chilly waters before the Sun rose, as nearby devotees chanted praises to the Hindu deity Shiva.
鈥淭his is the purpose of my life,鈥 said Sadhu Sridhar, reapplying a gray ash to his body after emerging from the waters.
Throughout the day, millions of pilgrims will queue in huge processions for their chance to plunge into the waters in northern Uttar Pradesh state.
鈥淚 do not know whether my prayers were accepted, but I am satisfied after taking a dip,鈥 said Narendranath Chakraborty, a 72-year-old who traveled from Kolkata in India鈥檚 east.
The last major gathering in Allahabad in 2013 drew an astonishing 120 million, organizers said.
Thirty million devotees 鈥 more than the entire population of Australia 鈥 are said to have bathed on a single auspicious day.
A helicopter dropped rose petals yesterday on an endless sea of dreadlocked sadhus smoking marijuana, priests offering blessings in saffron robes and pilgrims from every corner of India.
鈥淎ll the Gods descend on this sacred place during this period. This is the most auspicious event for any human being,鈥 said Chandan Pandey, a 60-year-old devotee.
Over 30,000 police officers have been deployed to oversee crowds for the huge undertaking, and prevent stampedes that have marred previous gatherings.
Patrol drones buzzed over a 45-square kilometer encampment set aside specially for pilgrims 鈥 a temporary city three-quarters the size of Manhattan.
The Uttar Pradesh government, led by a Hindu priest, has heavily promoted this year鈥檚 festival, which comes as India prepares for a general election due by May.
According to Hindu mythology, gods and demons fought a war over a sacred pitcher, or kumbh, containing the nectar of immortality.
During the tussle, a few drops fell to earth at four different locations 鈥 one being Allahabad.
The Kumbh, which runs until March 4, was recognized as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2017.
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