A pilgrimage can help Hindus by connecting them with Brahman. Through pilgrimage, they can show their belief in God and gain a better understanding of an important holy site. It is also a way of meeting other Hindus who share their beliefs and trying to work towards achieving moksha. The most sacred city in Hinduism is Varanasi , as it is one of the oldest and most respected cities. It is believed to be the city where Shiva , the god of destruction, lived a long time ago.
The River Ganges , which is one of the most sacred rivers in the world, runs through the city and is important as it is where Hindus bathe in the hope they can wash their sins away. A lot of Hindus believe that people who die in the city of Varanasi can achieve moksha. One of the most important pilgrimages in Hinduism is Kumbh Mela.
Pilgrimage A common reason that Hindus go on pilgrimages is to visit places that are of significance to certain deities. Places of pilgrimage Different places are considered important pilgrimage sites for different reasons. Four examples of popular pilgrimage sites are: Kumbh Mela — Once every 12 years, up to 10 million people meet at the Kumbh Mela festival, held at one of four sites where the waters of the Ganges and Jumna rivers combine.
Hindus from all walks of life gather to share ritual bathing, believing that their sins will be washed away. The bathing is followed by spiritual purification and a ceremony that secures the blessings of the deity.
As with other pilgrimage sites, this place is believed to have a deity directly linked to it. Varanasi — This is known as the city of light. It is on the banks of the Ganges and is one of the most important pilgrimage centres for Hindus. Vrindavana — This is another major pilgrimage site for Hindus. But this year, officials decided to push the pilgrimage back a month. Within those few months, there will be four days designated for people to dip into the Ganges, he said. We will take the precaution and do everything possible but we will not delay or cancel the Kumbh Mela," he added.
Despite the postponement, hundreds of thousands of people from across the country congregated in the ancient city of Haridwar, in the northern Uttarakhand state, on Thursday to celebrate Makar Sankranti.
Devotees began arriving on Wednesday; photos show families taking dips in the river, groups walking or sitting along the banks, and holy men performing evening prayers. Shopkeepers decorated their storefronts, while open-air vendors laid their goods along the streets in anticipation of the crowds. By Thursday, about , people were in attendance, according to Kaushik. As the first throngs of people dipped into the waters, authorities braced for the potential of a super-spreader event, with the country still reporting between up to 20, new Covid cases a day.
Globally, India has the second highest number of cases and third highest death toll. As of Friday, it has reported more than And though the pilgrimage has been postponed, it could still pose a threat when it takes place a month from now.
Even if the attendance falls this year, that's still millions of people congregating in close quarters for hours a day, sharing public facilities, having meals together, and bathing in the same waters.
A potential 'breeding ground'. India's infections peaked last September, and the number of daily new cases has steadily fallen since then. Regulators approved the country's first two Covid vaccines for restricted emergency use earlier this month; health authorities are now launching a massive immunization program , aiming to inoculate million people by August.
However, leaders warn that vaccine or not, the danger of infection is still high, and residents should continue taking precautions. The Uttarakhand High Court issued a court directive on January 11, highlighting the danger of the festival and urging authorities to provide more detailed safety measures. Unless the flow of people is controlled, with safe accommodation and transportation, "Kumbh Mela may become the breeding ground for spread of COVID pandemic," the court warned.
Indian Hindu devotees gather at the River Ganges during Makar Sankranti, a day considered to be of great religious significance in Hindu mythology, on January 14, Siddharth Chakrapani, the organizer of this year's festival, acknowledged health and safety concerns -- but said they were taking precautions, according to CNN-News
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