- Title: Indian devouts take holy dip to celebrate festival of rivers
- Date: 1st May 2023
- Summary: VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (MAY 01, 2023) (ANI - No use India) VARIOUS OF DEVOTEES GATHERED ON RIVERBANK WITH OFFERINGS WOMEN WITH SHAVED HEADS STANDING ON RIVERBANK PRIESTS ARRANGING OFFERINGS OFFERINGS KEPT ON DISPLAY VARIOUS OF PRIESTS ARRANGING OFFERING (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) PRIEST, BHASKAR NARAYANA VEMURI, SAYING: "We entered the 'Mesh' (Aries) zodiac sign as per th
- Embargoed: 15th May 2023 09:43
- Keywords: Ganges India Pushkaram Varanasi devotees festival holy dip priest rivers
- Location: VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA
- City: VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA
- Country: India
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA001I96WTOV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Hindu devotees thronged the banks of the holy Ganges River in northern Varanasi city on Monday (May 01) to a take dip and celebrate the 'Pushkaram' festival which is dedicated to sacred rivers.
Devotees and priests performed rituals to worship the river, which is an important aspect of the life of the people in India.
"We entered the 'Mesh' (Aries) zodiac sign as per the Hindu calendar on April 22 and then the 'Ganga Pushkar' festival commenced. As the festival began all of us arrived here and it is said that 30 million deities arrive here during this time," said a priest hailing from the southern Hyderabad city.
The festival is celebrated as per the zodiac sign of the 12 major rivers in the country and is hence observed once every 12 years.
The Ganges originates from the western Himalayas and flows south and east through north India and then enters Bangladesh. It is Hinduism's most sacred river and the faithful believe that bathing in the waters can absolve people of their sins.
The river and its tributaries are a vital water source for millions of people. Most of India's population can be found in the northern belt around the Ganges. - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2023. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None