January 14th. On the 13th local time, millions of Hindu followers flocked to the Ganges to bathe and pray in the river to celebrate the traditional festival-the Big Pot Festival.
Although Coronavirus pandemic in India is still very serious, most believers have not taken any protective measures, and an event organizer said, “Although Coronavirus pandemic is worrying, the Ganges goddess will protect us.”
According to a report from Agence France-Presse on the 13th, although the total number of confirmed cases of Coronavirus pandemic in India has exceeded 10 million, and the total number of deaths has exceeded 150,000, the Coronavirus pandemic has not prevented Hindu believers from going to the Ganges pilgrimage.
An event organizer said that about 800,000 to 1 million people participated in the pilgrimage a day on the 13th.
He also said that people do not need to worry too much about the epidemic because “the Ganges goddess will protect us.”
The Big Pot Festival is a traditional Hindu festival. It was last held in 2019 and attracted about 55 million people.
Pilgrims will take turns to jump into the river to be baptized with their valuables, and the monks will camp on the banks of the river and send blessings to the pilgrims.
In the coming week, India will usher in several other important religious festivals, when a large number of Hindu followers will participate in religious activities. Experts warn that although the epidemic in India has eased recently, a new wave of epidemics may be coming.
