Photos: Thousands celebrate at Hindu festival
In India, festivals lasting weeks celebrate harvests, the seasons and other auspicious events. Thousands come together to eat, socialize, and keep alive centuries-old traditions.
India Hindu Festival
Indian Hindu disciples surround their guru, second left, during a religious bath at Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati River, in Allahabad, India, Friday, Jan. 15, 2016. Makar Sankranti marks the beginning of the sun's northward movement according to the solar calendar and considered to be auspicious. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
India Festival
Indian Tamil Hindu women cook special food to celebrate the harvest festival of Pongal at Dharavi, one of the world’s largest slums, in Mumbai, India, Friday, Jan 15, 2016. This celebration, held according to the solar calendar, marks the beginning of the sun's northward movement, considered to be auspicious. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
India Festival
Indian Tamil Hindu women take selfies as they cook special food to celebrate the harvest festival of Pongal at Dharavi, one of the world’s largest slums, in Mumbai, India, Friday, Jan 15, 2016. This celebration, held according to the solar calendar, marks the beginning of the sun's northward movement, considered to be auspicious. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
India Festival
Indian Tamil Hindu women cook special food to celebrate the harvest festival of Pongal at Dharavi, one of the world’s largest slums, in Mumbai, India, Friday, Jan 15, 2016. This celebration, held according to the solar calendar, marks the beginning of the sun's northward movement, and is considered to be auspicious. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
India Hindu Festival
A young Indian girl peeps from behind a curtain at a temporary tent set up on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati River, during the Makar Sankranti festival in Allahabad, India, Friday, Jan. 15, 2016. Makar Sankranti marks the beginning of the sun's northward movement according to the solar calendar and considered to be auspicious. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
India Hindu Festival
Indian Hindu devotees take a dip in the river Ganges on the first auspicious bathing day of the Ardh Kumbh festival at Haridwar, India, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016. Thousands of devotees are expected to bathe in the holy Indian river to absolve themselves of their sins and seek salvation for the souls of their ancestors. (AP Photo/Sandeep Sharma)
India Hindu Festival
Devout Hindus participate in morning prayers before taking a dip in the River Ganges on the first auspicious bathing day of the Ardh Kumbh festival at Haridwar, India, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016. Thousands of devotees are expected to take a bath in the holy Indian river to absolve themselves of their sins and seek salvation for the souls of their ancestors. (AP Photo/Sandeep Sharma)
India Hindu Festival
A Hindu holy man takes a dip in the River Ganges on the first auspicious bathing day of the Ardh Kumbh festival at Haridwar, India, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016. Thousands of devotees are expected to take a bath in the holy Indian river to absolve themselves of their sins and seek salvation for the souls of their ancestors. (AP Photo/ Sandeep Sharma)
India Hindu Festival
Indian cleaners set out for work early in the morning near the Sangam, confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers, in Allahabad, India, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016. Thousands of devotees are expected to take holy dips at Sangam starting Jan. 14, on occasion of the Hindu festival of Makar Sankranti during the period of Magh Mela. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
India Hindu Festival
An Indian Hindu devotee prays while taking a holy dip at the Sangam, confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers, in Allahabad, India, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016. Thousands of devotees are expected to take holy dips at Sangam starting Jan. 14, on occasion of the Hindu festival of Makar Sankranti during the period of Magh Mela. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
India Hindu Festival
A Hindu priest prepares sandalwood paste to be used by devotees after bathing at the Sangam, confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers, in Allahabad, India, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016. Thousands of devotees are expected to take holy dips at Sangam starting Jan. 14, on occasion of the Hindu festival of Makar Sankranti during the period of Magh Mela. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
India Hindu Festival
Indian Hindu devotees keep themselves warm early in the morning near the Sangam, confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers, in Allahabad, India, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016. Thousands of devotees are expected to take holy dips at Sangam starting Jan. 14, on occasion of the Hindu festival of Makar Sankranti during the period of Magh Mela. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
India Hindu Festival
Indians scramble to enter a train in Hyderabad, India, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016. Railway platforms and trains were overcrowded Wednesday as most people travelled to their hometowns to celebrate the Hindu festival of Makar Sankranti that falls on Jan. 15. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
India Hindu Festival
An Indian man is silhouetted against the evening sun as he works on electric cables in preparation for the upcoming 'Magh Mela' festival in Allahabad, India, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016. Thousands of Hindu devotees are expected to gather here for holy dips at the confluence of rivers Ganges and Yamuna during the month-long fair that begins later this month. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
India Hindu Festival
A Hindu pilgrim on his way to the annual holy dip at Gangasagar, prepares marijuana as he rests with his pet monkey at a transit camp in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016. Thousands of Hindu pilgrims are expected to take the annual holy dip at Gangasagar, where the Ganges River reaches the Bay of Bengal, on the auspicious Makar Sankranti festival day that falls on Jan.14. (AP Photo/ Bikas Das)
India Hindu Festival
A young Hindu pilgrim on his way to the annual holy dip at Gangasagar, looks on as he rests at a transit camp in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016. Thousands of Hindu pilgrims are expected to take the annual holy dip at Gangasagar, where the Ganges River reaches the Bay of Bengal, on the auspicious Makar Sankranti festival day that falls on Jan.14. (AP Photo/ Bikas Das)
India Hindu Festival
A night view of the temporary tents set up on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna in Allahabad, India, Friday, Jan. 15, 2016. Thousands of devotees are expected to take holy dips at Sangam during the upcoming Hindu festival of 'Magh Mela’. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
India Hindu Festival
Indian Hindu devotees take a dip at Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati River, during the Makar Sankranti festival in Allahabad, India, Friday, Jan. 15, 2016. Makar Sankranti marks the beginning of the sun's northward movement according to the solar calendar and considered to be auspicious. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
India Hindu Festival
An Indian Hindu devotee arrives early morning at the banks of Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati River, during the Makar Sankranti festival in Allahabad, India, Friday, Jan. 15, 2016. Makar Sankranti marks the beginning of the sun's northward movement according to the solar calendar and considered to be auspicious. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
India Hindu Festival
An Indian Hindu devotee prays at the banks of Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati River, during the Makar Sankranti festival in Allahabad, India, Friday, Jan. 15, 2016. Makar Sankranti marks the beginning of the sun's northward movement according to the solar calendar and considered to be auspicious. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
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