Kumbh Mela is one of the largest religious festivals held in the world. Held every four years, an estimated 3 million will brave the winter weather to take a dip in the river Ganges, considered as holy and referred to as goddess by devout Hindus. It is believed that the dip on such auspicious occasion can cleanse one of their sins and free them from the cycle of life and rebirth.
According to the Hindu mythology a war was waged between the gods and the demons over a pitcher (Kumbh) of nectar. The nectar would lead to immortality. During the war, four drops of nectar spilled on the earth. These four spots are the Hindu holy cities of Allahabad, Nasik, Ujjain and Haridwar. The festival, Kumbh Mela, rotates (photo: ndtv) between these four holy cities.
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