Images of India

Are these images of India bothersome to you? I will post my views later.

1) Do they really represent our culture / traditions?
2) If they do, should we feel proud o such a display?
3) Do such images feed the ignorant around the world?

https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6274871.stm

A day at the festival Spiritual cleansing at Mela Bathers at Mela

At least 18 million people have bathed in the river Ganges in northern India on the main day of the Ardh Kumbh mela, festival organisers say.

Thousands of Hindu holy men began the plunge near the town of Allahabad at dawn. Crowds were bathing until late into the night.

It is thought to be the largest gathering of humanity on the planet.

Pilgrims believe that bathing at the confluence of three of Hinduism's holiest rivers washes away their sins.

The mass bathing is taking place at Sangam, where the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers meet.

The new moon night, or Mauni Amavasya, is celebrated on Friday, making it the most auspicious day in the six-week-long festival.

Special day

Ash-smeared Naga sadhus ran into the water at the start of the day wearing nothing apart from marigold garlands.

Hindus take dip at holy festival In pictures

The mela's chief organiser, RN Tripathi, said more than 18 million people had taken a holy dip by 1700 hours local time (1130 GMT).

Another two million people were expected to have followed suit by the end of the day.

The Mauni Amavasya is a day when sun, moon, Venus and Mercury are in the zodiac of Capricorn, a rare but perfect alignment of planets, devotees believe.

One pilgrim, Shri Mahant Vindgiri, explained why the day was so special.

"The planetary alignment is such that sun rays, when they fall on the Ganges, turn the river water into nectar. So bathing here today is equivalent to drinking nectar," he says.

Some say all amavasyas - or new moon nights - are auspicious for bathing in the Ganges, but Mauni (silent) Amavasya is also special as many pilgrims do not speak until they have had their bath.

"It is believed that on this day taking a bath without breaking your silence will bring the benefit of performing millions of yagnas [ritual offerings]," says Gulab Singh Yadav, a resident of Allahabad.

Tent city

The BBC's Geeta Pandey, who is at the festival, says all roads leading to the site are teeming with pilgrims and more keep arriving.

Hindu Kumbh festivals Ex-pilot reborn as guru In pictures: Pilgrims gather

Men with duvets and blankets slung across their shoulders, women carrying or holding small children by hand, saffron-robed sadhus - or holy men - are all at the site.

Many have trekked for miles.

No traffic is allowed on the roads leading up to the river and thousands of policemen and paramilitary troops have been deployed to ensure the orderly movement of people.

Under the alert eyes of security officials, hundreds of vendors sell marigold flowers and sweets, sacred thread and cans to take away the Ganges water, our correspondent says.

The Mela area, spread out over several square kilometres, has been turned into a tent city with thousands of tents - big and small - covering every bit of ground.

The festival began on 3 January and concludes on 16 February. Organisers expect about 60 million people to attend over the six weeks.

Originally posted by: mermaid_QT

Are these images of India bothersome to you? I will post my views later.

1) Do they really represent our culture / traditions?
2) If they do, should we feel proud o such a display?

Things are much worser than what meets the eye here, if the reality of the kumbh mela comes to forefront the image would be worser, I have seen two Kumbh mela's, barring 9/11 I have not seen a worser face of humanity than those two events

3) Do such images feed the ignorant around the world?
who care's what the world thinks about us, I think it is upon us the real Indians to carve out an image, India is a diverse country there are good things, there are bad things in India just like the rest of the countries

Interesting Story

Last time Allahabad hosted Kumbh Mela, Pat Robertson's people had a camp set-up to promote his religion for the lost

Imagine RSS setting up such a camp by the vatican during X-mas, or by Mecca in times of Haj

Wonder why no-one talks about that part of India, where we allow freedom that no other place in the world allows in terms of religion😉

Originally posted by: sareg

Interesting Story

Last time Allahabad hosted Kumbh Mela, Pat Robertson's people had a camp set-up to promote his religion for the lost

Imagine RSS setting up such a camp by the vatican during X-mas, or by Mecca in times of Haj

Wonder why no-one talks about that part of India, where we allow freedom that no other place in the world allows in terms of religion😉

👏👏 Well said Sareg...

There are many things about India and Hinduism that one would rather not see, but the fact that Hindu religion is open and accomodating to everyone , that makes it a single most compelling reason to feel proud to be a Hindu and Indian.

hinduism, more than being a religion is a philosophy and way of life ...
I dont feel bothered by the images... they are definitely representative of the freedom to choose our ways of life in our great country..like sareg , egghatcher and lighthouse have said...

Originally posted by: TallyHo

hinduism, more than being a religion is a philosophy and way of life ...
I dont feel bothered by the images... they are definitely representative of the freedom to choose our ways of life in our great country..like sareg , egghatcher and lighthouse have said...

Ok agree...........

But In kumba mela...The sanysi log walk nakedly...........its we cal misusing the freedom..😊

Originally posted by: egghatcher

no .... i am afraid.....

its called the naked truth ......when facing god..or as they say in USA laying it out bare ..😉 or another way they say in USA casinos ..... all cards on table 😛

Why u affried dude? 😉

Originally posted by: egghatcher

India should be proud that when Bollywood finally got to show its true colours to the Brits, it was done with style, dignity and tremendous depth of character. Shilpa has been a great role model for India and there is great pride amongst the British Asians in the UK. Decency won.

British-born Dalbir Bains runs Mumbai-based boutique, Boudoir London.

Excellent! Its about time we showed support for one of our own!

If we don't support our own people, then no one else will!

I think Gandhi would have been proud of this girl! I know a lot of British Asian Girls who would have given back as good as they get!

Originally posted by: mermaid_QT

Are these images of India bothersome to you? I will post my views later.

1) Do they really represent our culture / traditions?
2) If they do, should we feel proud o such a display?
3) Do such images feed the ignorant around the world?

https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6274871.stm

Millions of Hindus take holy bath

A day at the festival Spiritual cleansing at Mela Bathers at Mela

At least 18 million people have bathed in the river Ganges in northern India on the main day of the Ardh Kumbh mela, festival organisers say.

Thousands of Hindu holy men began the plunge near the town of Allahabad at dawn. Crowds were bathing until late into the night.

It is thought to be the largest gathering of humanity on the planet.

Pilgrims believe that bathing at the confluence of three of Hinduism's holiest rivers washes away their sins.

The mass bathing is taking place at Sangam, where the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers meet.

The new moon night, or Mauni Amavasya, is celebrated on Friday, making it the most auspicious day in the six-week-long festival.

Special day

Ash-smeared Naga sadhus ran into the water at the start of the day wearing nothing apart from marigold garlands.

Hindus take dip at holy festival In pictures

The mela's chief organiser, RN Tripathi, said more than 18 million people had taken a holy dip by 1700 hours local time (1130 GMT).

Another two million people were expected to have followed suit by the end of the day.

The Mauni Amavasya is a day when sun, moon, Venus and Mercury are in the zodiac of Capricorn, a rare but perfect alignment of planets, devotees believe.

One pilgrim, Shri Mahant Vindgiri, explained why the day was so special.

"The planetary alignment is such that sun rays, when they fall on the Ganges, turn the river water into nectar. So bathing here today is equivalent to drinking nectar," he says.

Some say all amavasyas - or new moon nights - are auspicious for bathing in the Ganges, but Mauni (silent) Amavasya is also special as many pilgrims do not speak until they have had their bath.

"It is believed that on this day taking a bath without breaking your silence will bring the benefit of performing millions of yagnas [ritual offerings]," says Gulab Singh Yadav, a resident of Allahabad.

Tent city

The BBC's Geeta Pandey, who is at the festival, says all roads leading to the site are teeming with pilgrims and more keep arriving.

Hindu Kumbh festivals Ex-pilot reborn as guru In pictures: Pilgrims gather

Men with duvets and blankets slung across their shoulders, women carrying or holding small children by hand, saffron-robed sadhus - or holy men - are all at the site.

Many have trekked for miles.

No traffic is allowed on the roads leading up to the river and thousands of policemen and paramilitary troops have been deployed to ensure the orderly movement of people.

Under the alert eyes of security officials, hundreds of vendors sell marigold flowers and sweets, sacred thread and cans to take away the Ganges water, our correspondent says.

The Mela area, spread out over several square kilometres, has been turned into a tent city with thousands of tents - big and small - covering every bit of ground.

The festival began on 3 January and concludes on 16 February. Organisers expect about 60 million people to attend over the six weeks.

Nice Post😊