Tuesday's bathing rituals, called the Shahi Snan ... at the mela grounds in large noisy processions. One group of ash-smeared ...

Such mass bathing in the Ganges has been recorded for more than 2,500 years. For many Hindus, a visit to the holy city of Varanasi ... into the sacred river; ash is therefore a prevalent symbol ...

Hindus believe that bathing at the confluence will cleanse ... Holding tridents, swords, spears and small two-headed drums, ash-smeared Hindu holy men marched and rode chariots at sunrise toward ...