ALLAHABAD (INDIA) – Oltre 30 milioni di pellegrini, domenica 10 febbraio si sono immersi nel punto in cui si incrociano le acque dei fiumi Gange e Yamuna in occasione del Kumbh Mela, il più famoso pellegrinaggio induista che si tiene ogni 12 anni.
Per i fedeli il bagno nel punto d’incontro tra i due fiumi sacri lava via i peccati e ad aiuta a raggiungere la salvezza. Alla fine della festivita’, che dura 55 giorni, fino a 100 milioni di persone si saranno immerse nelle acque, scrive la Bbc.
Nell’ultima edizione del 2001, circa 40 milioni di persone avevano partecipato ai bagni rituali con enormi costi per l’organizzazione in termini di logistica e sicurezza. Per garantire un tranquillo svolgimento dell’evento sacro sono stati dispiegati 14000 agenti nella città di Allahabad. Alla fine della cerimonia, 36 pellegrini induisti sono morti schiacciati nella ressa che si è provocata alla stazione mentre cercavano di prendere un treno che li riportasse a casa.
(Foto LaPresse)
A Hindu devotee greets "Naga" sadhus or Hindu naked holy men from the Niranjani "Akhada" or sect with folded hands as they take out a procession for a ritual dip at "Sangam," the confluence of Hindu holy rivers Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, during the Maha Kumbh festival at Allahabad, India, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. Millions of devout Hindus and thousands of Hindu holy men are expected to take a dip at Sangam on Sunday, the most auspicious day according to the alignment of stars, for the entire duration of Maha Kumbh festival, which lasts for 55 days. (AP Photo/ Saurabh Das) (LaPresse/AP/Saurabh Das)
"Naga" sadhus or, Hindu naked holy men from the Niranjani "Akhada" or sect, take out a procession to take a ritual dip at "Sangam", the confluence of Hindu holy rivers Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, during the Maha Kumbh festival at Allahabad, India, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. Millions of devout Hindus and thousands of Hindu holy men are expected to take a dip at Sangam on Sunday, the most auspicious day according to the alignment of stars, for the entire duration of Maha Kumbh festival, which lasts for 55 days. (AP Photo/ Saurabh Das) (LaPresse/AP/Saurabh Das)
A Naga sadhu or Hindu naked holy man beats a small drum after bathing at Sangam, the confluence of Hindu holy rivers Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, during the Maha Kumbh festival at Allahabad, India, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. Millions of devout Hindus and thousands of Hindu holy men are expected to take a dip at Sangam on Sunday, the most auspicious day according to the alignment of stars, for the entire duration of Maha Kumbh festival, which lasts for 55 days. (AP Photo/ Saurabh Das) (LaPresse/AP/Saurabh Das)
Naga sadhus or Hindu naked holy men from the Niranjani Akhada or sect, march to take a ritual dip at Sangam, the confluence of Hindu holy rivers Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, during the Maha Kumbh festival at Allahabad, India, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. Millions of devout Hindus and thousands of Hindu holy men are expected to take a dip at Sangam on Sunday, the most auspicious day according to the alignment of stars, for the entire duration of Maha Kumbh festival, which lasts for 55 days. (AP Photo/ Saurabh Das) (LaPresse/AP/Saurabh Das)
A "Naga sadhu", or Hindu naked holy man, returns after taking a ritual dip at Sangam, the confluence of Hindu holy rivers Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, during the Maha Kumbh festival at Allahabad, India, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. Millions of devout Hindus and thousands of Hindu holy men are expected to take a dip at Sangam on Sunday, the most auspicious day according to the alignment of stars, for the entire duration of Maha Kumbh festival, which lasts for 55 days. (AP Photo/ Saurabh Das) (LaPresse/AP/Saurabh Das)
A Hindu devotee performs morning rituals before sunrise during the Maha Kumbh festival at Allahabad, India, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. Millions of devout Hindus and thousands of Hindu holy men are expected to take a dip at Sangam on Sunday, the most auspicious day according to the alignment of stars, for the entire duration of Maha Kumbh festival, which lasts for 55 days. (AP Photo/ Saurabh Das) (LaPresse/AP/Saurabh Das)
A "Naga" sadhu or Hindu naked holy man takes a dip at "Sangam," the confluence of Hindu holy rivers Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, during the Maha Kumbh festival at Allahabad, India, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. Millions of devout Hindus and thousands of Hindu holy men are expected to take a dip at Sangam on Sunday, the most auspicious day according to the alignment of stars, for the entire duration of Maha Kumbh festival, which lasts for 55 days. (AP Photo/ Saurabh Das) (LaPresse/AP/Saurabh Das)
A "Naga" sadhu or Hindu naked holy man takes a dip at "Sangam," the confluence of Hindu holy rivers Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, during the Maha Kumbh festival at Allahabad, India, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. Millions of devout Hindus and thousands of Hindu holy men are expected to take a dip at Sangam on Sunday, the most auspicious day according to the alignment of stars, for the entire duration of Maha Kumbh festival, which lasts for 55 days. (AP Photo/ Saurabh Das) (LaPresse/AP/Saurabh Das)
"Naga" sadhus or Hindu naked holy men from the Niranjani "Akhada" or sect, take out a procession to take a ritual dip at "Sangam," the confluence of Hindu holy rivers Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, during the Maha Kumbh festival at Allahabad, India, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. Millions of devout Hindus and thousands of Hindu holy men are expected to take a dip at Sangam on Sunday, the most auspicious day according to the alignment of stars, for the entire duration of Maha Kumbh festival, which lasts for 55 days. (AP Photo/Saurabh Das) (LaPresse/AP/Saurabh Das)
"Naga" sadhus or Hindu naked holy men from the Niranjani "Akhada" or sect, take out a procession to take a ritual dip at "Sangam," the confluence of Hindu holy rivers Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, during the Maha Kumbh festival at Allahabad, India, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. Millions of devout Hindus and thousands of Hindu holy men are expected to take a dip at Sangam on Sunday, the most auspicious day according to the alignment of stars, for the entire duration of Maha Kumbh festival, which lasts for 55 days. (AP Photo/Saurabh Das) (LaPresse/AP/Saurabh Das)
A "Naga" sadhu or Hindu naked holy man holding a sword tries to make his way through a throng of Hindu devotees bathing at "Sangam," the confluence of Hindu holy rivers Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, during the Maha Kumbh festival at Allahabad, India, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. Millions of devout Hindus and thousands of Hindu holy men are expected to take a dip at Sangam on Sunday, the most auspicious day according to the alignment of stars, for the entire duration of Maha Kumbh festival, which lasts for 55 days. (AP Photo/ Saurabh Das) (LaPresse/AP/Saurabh Das)
