Millions of devotees make a pilgrimage to the biggest festival in Hinduism despite the risk of infection with Covid-19

India's biggest religious festival Kumbh Mela is held annually in December every year. It is estimated that more than one million pilgrims gathered on the banks of the Ganges River in northern India, marking the start of the major religious festival season in progress, despite the risks of Covid-19 infection.

Kumbh Mela is the main pilgrimage event and major festival in Hinduism, held every 12 years at 4 main points along the riverbank. This is considered "the largest religious pilgrims in the world". UNESCO also officially recognized the festival in the "List of representatives of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity".

 

Devotees bathe in the Ganges River hoping to wash away past sins. Photo: The Guardian.

Every year, this festive season attracts tens of millions of people, of which, the Kumbh Mela festival took place in 2011 with a record 60 million people. 

This year's festival takes place at a time when the Covid-19 epidemic is still complicated. But an estimated one million pilgrims gathered on the banks of the Ganges River in northern India. Millions more are expected to flock to Haridwar (India) in the coming weeks.

 

Kumbh Mela is the main pilgrimage event and major festival in Hinduism. Photo: Kumbh Mela Haridwar.

The believers believe that, being immersed in the Ganges River during the festival season will help them get rid of their wrong sins in the past.

Local officials say they have taken a number of measures to prevent the spread of the disease, including requiring pilgrims to book in advance to control numbers, seriously segregate society, and block the area. bath with color code ...

 

Due to the large number of participants, the organizers have many difficulties in spacing. Photo: turbanadventures

However, according to media observations, most of the pilgrims who went to the Ganges bath on January 14 did not wear masks. Due to the large number of participants, the organizers have many difficulties in spacing.

"India is not like Europe because of its better immunity," said Sanjay Sharma, a 50-year-old pilgrim. "I feel sad because the number of people coming here is not as large as in previous seasons," he said.

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