The Ambubasi festival

Published June 19, 2013
A Sadhu or Hindu holy man prays at the Kamakhya temple in Gauhati, India, Wednesday, June 19, 2013. — AP Photo
A Sadhu or Hindu holy man prays at the Kamakhya temple in Gauhati, India, Wednesday, June 19, 2013. — AP Photo
Goats are tied for sacrifice at the Kamakhya temple in Gauhati, India, Wednesday, June 19, 2013. — AP Photo
Goats are tied for sacrifice at the Kamakhya temple in Gauhati, India, Wednesday, June 19, 2013. — AP Photo
A Hindu holy man dressed like Goddess Kali stands at the Kamakhya temple in Gauhati, India, Wednesday, June 19, 2013. — AP Photo
A Hindu holy man dressed like Goddess Kali stands at the Kamakhya temple in Gauhati, India, Wednesday, June 19, 2013. — AP Photo
A young Indian child, dressed like Lord Shiva, stands among devotees at the Kamakhya temple in Gauhati, India, Wednesday, June 19, 2013. — AP Photo
A young Indian child, dressed like Lord Shiva, stands among devotees at the Kamakhya temple in Gauhati, India, Wednesday, June 19, 2013. — AP Photo
An Indian woman rings bells at the Kamakhya temple in Gauhati, India, Wednesday, June 19, 2013. — AP Photo
An Indian woman rings bells at the Kamakhya temple in Gauhati, India, Wednesday, June 19, 2013. — AP Photo
Sadhus or Hindu holy men rest at Kamakhya temple in Gauhati, India, Wednesday, June 19, 2013. — AP Photo
Sadhus or Hindu holy men rest at Kamakhya temple in Gauhati, India, Wednesday, June 19, 2013. — AP Photo
An Indian man sells lotus flowers to devotees standing behind a fence at the Kamakhya temple in Gauhati, India, Wednesday, June 19, 2013. — AP Photo
An Indian man sells lotus flowers to devotees standing behind a fence at the Kamakhya temple in Gauhati, India, Wednesday, June 19, 2013. — AP Photo
Goats fight at the Kamakhya temple in Gauhati, India, Wednesday, June 19, 2013. — AP Photo
Goats fight at the Kamakhya temple in Gauhati, India, Wednesday, June 19, 2013. — AP Photo

Hundreds of tantric Sadhus, or holy men from an esoteric form of Hinduism, gather to perform rituals at the temple during the annual Ambubasi festival that begins from June 22.

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