INDIA: Hundreds of thousands of Hindu devotees gather on borders of the Ganges River in Northern Indian city of Allahabad, on first day the "Ardh Kumbh Mela" or the Half Pitcher Festival
- 00:00:12
- ITN Source
INDIA: Hundreds of thousands of Hindu devotees gather on borders of the Ganges River in Northern Indian city of Allahabad, on first day the "Ardh Kumbh Mela" or the Half Pitcher Festival
Hundreds of thousands of Hindu devotees gathered on the borders of the Ganges River, the holy river, on Sunday morning (January 14), in the Northern Indian city of Allahabad, braving near freezing temperatures to wash away their sins on the first day the "Ardh Kumbh Mela" or the Half Pitcher Festival, two days of holy bathing. It was a very sunny start for Hindu devotees who bathed at dawn this morning in the freezing waters of the Ganges River, with thousands just waiting few metres from the water for their turn to wash their sins. As many as 70 million people from India and abroad are expected over the whole Festival, billed as one of the largest gatherings on earth. Hindu Devotees have come all across the world to experience such a festival, Bernadette, a French women living in India for 5 years and her friend Danielle who just came in India for a week from France for the event, have never seen anything like it. "This really touch my heart, it's very deep in my heart, it's beautiful and I can feel so much love, it's very nice, I enjoy so much," Says Bernadette. "My heart is fool of god, that's for god, only for love. There are so many people, it is the first time in my life I can see that, and I'm full," says Danielle. Men, women, children and holy men in saffron gathered at the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna and a mythical third river in Allahabad city well before dawn, waiting for the sun to rise for the auspicious bath. "When I look at all these saints, I feel so calm and many people have come from all over the world. It's really great and I am very happy," says a Hindu devotee. Holly men chanted verses from Hindu scriptures and sang holy songs as they walked towards the bathing areas-- while security men on horsebacks, close circuit cameras and on top of watch towers kept a vigil on the crowds. The festival falls midway between the "Maha Kumbh Mela" or the Great Pitcher Festival, celebrated once every 12 years. At least 20 million devotees are expected to visit the holy town in the next two days. The "Maha Kumbh Mela" in 1989 attracted 15 million pilgrims and the Guinness Book of Records dubbed it the largest gathering of human beings for a single purpose. The festival in 2001 drew between 50 and 70 million. Thousands of tents and camps have been built to house pilgrims across the 4,000 acre (1,600 hectares) festival area and more than 10,000 policemen, including specially-trained "terrorist spotters", have been deployed, authorities said.
ITN Source | January 14, 2007
