The world’s largest festival has begun in India

Haridwar, a sleepy city on the shores of the Indian holy river, the Ganges, is regarded as one of the seven holiest places in the country. In Hindi, Haridwar means Gateway to God, ‘Hari’ meaning God and ‘dwar’ meaning gate.

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© RIA Novosti . Evgeny Bezeka

Haridwar, a sleepy city on the shores of the Indian holy river, the Ganges, is regarded as one of the seven holiest places in the country. In Hindi, Haridwar means Gateway to God, ‘Hari’ meaning God and ‘dwar’ meaning gate.

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© RIA Novosti . Evgeny Bezeka

The world’s largest festival, Purna (complete) Kumbh Mela is a mass Hindu pilgrimage held every 12 years at one of four specified locations in India. This year it is held in Haridwar on the Ganges, where millions of pilgrims have come despite the cold.

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© RIA Novosti . Evgeny Bezeka

At night temperatures drop to 5 degrees Celsius (41 degrees Fahrenheit), and the pilgrims are glad for any chance to get warm before dipping into the river.

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© RIA Novosti . Evgeny Bezeka

At dawn, the crowds move toward Har-ki-Pauri on the city’s main embankment, where bathing enclaves are erected for the pilgrims.

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© RIA Novosti . Evgeny Bezeka

There are Brahmins and ‘sadhus’ (holy men) among the pilgrims.

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© RIA Novosti . Evgeny Bezeka

The Hindus believe that going in the river during the holy festival will help them understand the spiritual essence of Man and receive redemption. The festival, which began on January 14, will run through April 28.

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Many view the holy ritual as a tribute to the Great River, which starts in the Himalayan glaciers and is never more than several degrees Celsius warm. But this does not intimidate the true believers.

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This temple to Ganga, the goddess of the river Ganges, located in an ancient square near the embankment is one of the sites the pilgrims visit.

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Before leaving, pilgrims take water from the holy river in plastic canisters.

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© RIA Novosti . Evgeny Bezeka

Meadows around the city become multicolored when Indian women hang their traditional clothing, sari (or shari), out to dry.

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Pilgrims set up camp to get warm, rest, cook and dry their clothes. Many of them will return here several more times until the festival ends in late April.