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| Ganges flushed for Hindu bathers | Ganges flushed for Hindu bathers |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| India's Ganges river at the city of Allahabad has been flushed with fresh water from upstream to improve bathing for millions at a key Hindu festival. | India's Ganges river at the city of Allahabad has been flushed with fresh water from upstream to improve bathing for millions at a key Hindu festival. |
| Some holy men, or sadhus, had threatened to boycott bathing in waters they considered too polluted. | Some holy men, or sadhus, had threatened to boycott bathing in waters they considered too polluted. |
| Five million devotees have already gathered on the banks of the river for the 45-day Ardh Kumbh festival. | Five million devotees have already gathered on the banks of the river for the 45-day Ardh Kumbh festival. |
| Sunday and Monday are considered auspicious bathing days as the sun enters the Tropic of Capricorn. | Sunday and Monday are considered auspicious bathing days as the sun enters the Tropic of Capricorn. |
| Hindus believe that bathing at Sangam, the confluence of three holy rivers - Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati - can wash away their sins. | Hindus believe that bathing at Sangam, the confluence of three holy rivers - Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati - can wash away their sins. |
| Pitcher battle | Pitcher battle |
| Water from canals and dams upstream was released to clean the river at the northern city of Allahabad to pacify the sadhus, some of whom had threatened to kill themselves. | Water from canals and dams upstream was released to clean the river at the northern city of Allahabad to pacify the sadhus, some of whom had threatened to kill themselves. |
| Some Sadhus were angry at the pollution of the water | Some Sadhus were angry at the pollution of the water |
| Local official RN Tripathi said: "We are trying to win them over. There is enough fresh and clean water in the Ganges and it is fit for bathing." | |
| Offerings cast into the river and waste and sewage dumped into it have polluted the river over many years. | Offerings cast into the river and waste and sewage dumped into it have polluted the river over many years. |
| Astrologers are divided on the most auspicious time of alignment but millions of Hindu devotees are expected to bathe late on Sunday and early Monday. | Astrologers are divided on the most auspicious time of alignment but millions of Hindu devotees are expected to bathe late on Sunday and early Monday. |
| The Ardh Kumbh Mela, which began on 3 January, is one of the largest gatherings on Earth, with more than 70m Hindus expected to attend over the 45-day period. | The Ardh Kumbh Mela, which began on 3 January, is one of the largest gatherings on Earth, with more than 70m Hindus expected to attend over the 45-day period. |
| It is a smaller version of the Kumbh Mela, or Pitcher Festival, which takes place every 12 years. | It is a smaller version of the Kumbh Mela, or Pitcher Festival, which takes place every 12 years. |
| According to Hindu mythology, gods and demons fought a celestial war over a pitcher of divine nectar. Allahabad is one of the four towns where drops of nectar fell during the battle. | According to Hindu mythology, gods and demons fought a celestial war over a pitcher of divine nectar. Allahabad is one of the four towns where drops of nectar fell during the battle. |
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