Maha Kumbh festival

Published January 13, 2013
Indian holy men sit around a bonfire amidst morning fog after arriving at Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, ahead of the Maha Kumbh festival in Allahabad, India.?Photo by AP
Indian holy men sit around a bonfire amidst morning fog after arriving at Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, ahead of the Maha Kumbh festival in Allahabad, India.?Photo by AP
A Hindu priest holds an oil lamp as he performs evening prayers near the banks of river Ganges ahead of the "Kumbh Mela" (Pitcher Festival) in the northern Indian city of Allahabad.?Photo by Reuters
A Hindu priest holds an oil lamp as he performs evening prayers near the banks of river Ganges ahead of the "Kumbh Mela" (Pitcher Festival) in the northern Indian city of Allahabad.?Photo by Reuters
Sadhus, or Hindu holy men, take part in a religious procession near the banks of the river Ganges ahead of the "Kumbh Mela" (Pitcher Festival) in the northern Indian city of Allahabad.?Photo by Reuters
Sadhus, or Hindu holy men, take part in a religious procession near the banks of the river Ganges ahead of the "Kumbh Mela" (Pitcher Festival) in the northern Indian city of Allahabad.?Photo by Reuters
A devotee prays before taking a dip in the waters of the holy Ganges river ahead of the "Kumbh Mela" (Pitcher Festival) in the northern Indian city of Allahabad.?Photo by Reuters
A devotee prays before taking a dip in the waters of the holy Ganges river ahead of the "Kumbh Mela" (Pitcher Festival) in the northern Indian city of Allahabad.?Photo by Reuters
A Hindu devotee stands in the waters of river Ganges to offer prayers to Sun god at dawn in Varanasi, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.?Photo by Reuters
A Hindu devotee stands in the waters of river Ganges to offer prayers to Sun god at dawn in Varanasi, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.?Photo by Reuters
Devotees arrive at the Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, as part of the Maha Kumbh festival, in Allahabad, India.?Photo by AP
Devotees arrive at the Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, as part of the Maha Kumbh festival, in Allahabad, India.?Photo by AP
Hindu pilgrims pray after taking a holy dip at the confluence of the river Ganges and the Bay of Bengal at Sagar Island, south of Kolkata.?Photo by Reuters
Hindu pilgrims pray after taking a holy dip at the confluence of the river Ganges and the Bay of Bengal at Sagar Island, south of Kolkata.?Photo by Reuters
Indian Sikhs perform their skills during a religious procession to start towards the Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, ahead of the Maha Kumbh festival in Allahabad, India. ?Photo by AP
Indian Sikhs perform their skills during a religious procession to start towards the Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, ahead of the Maha Kumbh festival in Allahabad, India. ?Photo by AP

Millions of Hindu pilgrims are expected to take part in the large religious congregation of a period of over a month on the banks of Sangam during the Maha Kumbh festival in January 2013, which falls every 12th year. The ceremony consists of devotees bathe for purification and is the largest religious gathering in the world, with over 40 million people in 2001.

Opinion

Editorial

Ending rabies
25 Apr, 2025

Ending rabies

RABIES remains one of Pakistan’s most deadly, yet neglected public health crises. Across the country, hundreds die...
Wheat worries
25 Apr, 2025

Wheat worries

PUNJAB’S farmers are enraged. They are not getting what they call a fair price for their wheat harvest this year...
Pahalgam attack
Updated 24 Apr, 2025

Pahalgam attack

Pakistan must proceed with caution and prepare a calm yet firm response to India’s allegations, and threats.
New IMF projection
24 Apr, 2025

New IMF projection

THE downgrading of the IMF’s growth forecast for Pakistan by 40bps to 2.6pc is perturbing, especially considering...
Stranded goods
24 Apr, 2025

Stranded goods

AS controversy over the new canals continues to rage, traders across the country have begun raising the alarm over...