By RAJESH KUMAR SINGH
From The Associated Press
PRAYAGRAJ, India (AP) Media www.rajawalisiber.com — 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.
Pilgrims take holy dips early morning at Sangam, the sacred confluence of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, during Magh Mela festival, in Prayagraj, India Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
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.
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.”
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.
A Hindu Holy man lies in front of an image of Hindu Goddess of learning Saraswati, at Sangam, the sacred confluence of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, during Magh Mela festival, in Prayagraj, India Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
The festival is being held even though COVID-19 cases in some parts of the country are rising after months of steady decline. India has confirmed 11 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 Hindu Holy man smears ash on his hair after a holy dip at Sangam, the sacred confluence of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, during Magh Mela festival, in Prayagraj, India Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
A Hindu Holy man prays as others shower flower petals on him during Magh Mela festival, in Prayagraj, India Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Hindu Holy men pray on the banks of the river Ganges during Magh Mela festival, in Prayagraj, India Tuesday, 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 Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Hindu Holy men prepare food on the banks of the river Ganges during Magh Mela festival, in Prayagraj, India, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Hindu Holy men pray on the bank of the river Ganges during Magh mela festival, in Prayagraj, India Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
A Hindu priest prepares vermillion paste for pilgrims at Sangam during Magh mela festival, in Prayagraj, India Friday, Feb. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Virender Kumar Shukla, a Kalpvasi or a devotee who chooses to stay for the entire time of the festival, blesses his wife as she touches his feet after a holy dip at the Sangam during Magh mela festival, in Prayagraj, India Friday, Feb. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Devotees pray to a calf after a holy dip at Sangam during Magh mela festival, in Prayagraj, India Friday, Feb. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
A family takes a selfie after a holy dip at Sangam during Magh mela festival, in Prayagraj, India Friday, Feb. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
A Hindu pilgrim prays during Magh Mela festival, in Prayagraj, India Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Inspector General of Police Kavinder Pratap Singh patrols on horseback during Magh Mela festival, in Prayagraj, India Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
A Hindu holy, man smokes after a holy dip at Sangam during Magh Mela festival, in Prayagraj, India Tuesday, Feb.16, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Devotees take holy dips at the Sangam, the sacred confluence of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, during Magh Mela festival, in Prayagraj, India Sunday, Feb.14, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Devotees take holy dips at Sangam during Magh Mela festival, in Prayagraj, India Tuesday, Feb.16, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Devotees and pilgrims eat at a free food camp, at Sangam, during Magh Mela festival, in Prayagraj, India Friday, Feb. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
A Hindu holy man watches pilgrims walk past during Magh Mela festival, in Prayagraj, India Tuesday, Feb.16, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Devotees pray and take holy dips at Sangam, during Magh Mela festival, in Prayagraj, India Friday, Feb. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
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