News India Naga sadhus lead Kumbh festivities, lakhs take holy dip

Naga sadhus lead Kumbh festivities, lakhs take holy dip

Allahabad, Jan 14: The world's largest gathering of people, the 55-day Kumbh congregation, began in this north India town Monday with tens of thousands of devotees, led by ash-smeared Naga ascetics, taking a dip at



As the clock struck five Monday morning, heavily decked-up chariots, some in silver and gold, wound their way to the Sangam, with hundreds following in procession on foot, beating drums and blowing conch shells.



There was a mad frenzy in the foreign and national media, with photographers rushing to get winner shots of the naked, ash-smeared 'Naga' sadhus jumping into the chilly waters of the Ganges.

Before they did so, the sadhus danced and threw garlands at the press gallery in gay abandon, waving to hundreds of followers on the other side.

Carrying silver tridents, maces, axes and swords, some of the sadhus with flowing beards told IANS that they felt on top of the world as they "touched mother Ganges".

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