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7 killed as Hindus rush to bathe in holy water - People's Daily Online Jan 15 2010
Hundreds of thousands of Hindu believers bathed in waters considered sacred across large parts of India to mark the start of the "Kumbh Mela" festival Thursday, with at least seven people killed in a stampede in West Bengal, the Reuters reported.
At least half a million men, women and children braved chilly winds to bathe in the icy waters of the Ganges in Haridwar at the "Kumbh Mela", or Pitcher Festival, held every 12 years in different Indian cities.
Hindus believe that bathing in the Ganges during the almost four-month-long festival cleanses them of their sins, speeding the way to the attainment of nirvana.
The ritualistic bathing takes place in other venues as well, with massive crowds often leading to accidents.In West Bengal, six women were among seven people killed in a stampede as thousands bathed at the confluence of Ganges river and the Bay of Bengal, officials said.
"The stampede happened when pilgrims were rushing to get into a boat," said Surajit Kar Purakayastha, a police officer.
More than 50 million people from India and abroad are expected to visit the holy city of Haridwar over the next few months, authorities said. People gathered near the river banks in Uttarakhand before dawn and began bathing as soon as the sun rose.
After bathing in the polluted but sacred waters many filled cans and bottles with water, saying they would carry them for their relatives who could not make the journey.
People's Daily Online Agencies
Hundreds of thousands of Hindu believers bathed in waters considered sacred across large parts of India to mark the start of the "Kumbh Mela" festival Thursday, with at least seven people killed in a stampede in West Bengal, the Reuters reported.
At least half a million men, women and children braved chilly winds to bathe in the icy waters of the Ganges in Haridwar at the "Kumbh Mela", or Pitcher Festival, held every 12 years in different Indian cities.
Hindus believe that bathing in the Ganges during the almost four-month-long festival cleanses them of their sins, speeding the way to the attainment of nirvana.
The ritualistic bathing takes place in other venues as well, with massive crowds often leading to accidents.In West Bengal, six women were among seven people killed in a stampede as thousands bathed at the confluence of Ganges river and the Bay of Bengal, officials said.
"The stampede happened when pilgrims were rushing to get into a boat," said Surajit Kar Purakayastha, a police officer.
More than 50 million people from India and abroad are expected to visit the holy city of Haridwar over the next few months, authorities said. People gathered near the river banks in Uttarakhand before dawn and began bathing as soon as the sun rose.
After bathing in the polluted but sacred waters many filled cans and bottles with water, saying they would carry them for their relatives who could not make the journey.
People's Daily Online Agencies
