Uttarakhand
HARIDWAR - A sea of pilgrims converged here Wednesday to take a holy dip in the revered Ganga on the occasion of Vaisakh Aadhimaas that marks the end of one of the largest religious gatherings in the world - the Maha Kumbh.
HARIDWAR - As a sea of mostly Hindu pilgrims descended here for the Kumbh Mela, Azim Mir Khan was among the many doctors who attended to their aches, pains and ailments as part of a medical camp set by Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) alumni.
HARIDWAR - Sitting on empty, folded sacks, they neatly pile up coins in multiple rows and jingle them every time someone passes by.
HARIDWAR - For centuries the spiritual soup for the millions crowding the banks of the Ganga river for Mahakumh Mela has remained unchanged - poori, sukhi aloo ki sabzi and suji ka halwa.
HARIDWAR - The temples of Ganga Maiya, Lord Shiva and Lakshmi-Narayan at Har-ki-Pauri in this Uttarakhand town, which is hosting the three-month Mahakumbh Mela Jan 14-April 28, will remain closed during the solar eclipse Friday.
