Tens of thousands of Indians jump into the Ganges River to bathe (Celebrating the Hindu festival of MahaShivaratri)

Tens of thousands of Indians flocked to the Ganges River and jumped into its waters to bathe in order to cleanse their bodies and minds and pray for divine blessings on the occasion of MahaShivaratri, a traditional Hindu festival. This grand celebration attracts tourists and devotees from all over India and the world.

What is Mahashtami?

Mahashtami is one of the most important festivals in Hinduism, which was established in honor of Lord Shiva (Shiva). According to legend, this is the day when Lord Shiva and Parvati got married. On this day, Hindu devotees pray to Lord Shiva for his blessings and shelter.

Preparations

Before attending the Mahashtami celebrations, devotees need to make some preparations. First, they have to start fasting from food items like meat and alcohol a few days before the festival. Secondly, they have to put on new clothes, wash their bodies and prepare items like offerings and spices.

How to jump into the Ganges to bathe

When the day of Mahashtami arrives, devotees head to the Ganges River and jump into its waters to bathe in order to cleanse their bodies and minds and pray for divine blessings. Here are the steps to follow to jump into the Ganges and take a bath:

1. Find a suitable place to jump into the river. In the Ganges Valley, there are many venues dedicated to Mahashtami celebrations and devotees can choose one of them for bathing.

2. Prepare offerings and spices. Before jumping into the river, devotees need to prepare a number of offerings and spices such as flowers, fruits, incense and candles for worshiping the deity.

3. Jump into the river. Devotees need to completely immerse their bodies in the river water to cleanse their bodies and souls. The duration of bathing in the river can vary according to personal preference, usually ranging from a few minutes to half an hour.

4. Worshiping the gods. After bathing in the river, devotees need to offer prayers to Lord Shiva for his blessings and shelter. They will place offerings and spices in the river water to show their respect and gratitude to the deity.

Ending

Mahashtami is one of the most important festivals in Hinduism and it is a day when devotees pray to the deities for their blessings and shelter. On this day, tens of thousands of Indians flock to the Ganges River and jump into its waters to bathe in order to cleanse their bodies and minds and pray for divine blessings. This grand celebration attracts tourists and devotees from all over India and the world. The procedure for jumping into the Ganges to bathe is straightforward, but you need to be safe and follow local rules and instructions.