"bathing site"

#13198616

15 January 2026

Sadhus (holy men) take a holy dip at Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganges and Yamuna, on the occasion of the Makar Sankranti festival during the ongoing one-month-long annual traditional fair Magh Mela festival, in Prayagraj, India, on January 15, 2026.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#13193457

14 January 2026

Devotees arrive on the banks of the River Ganges for the Hindu festival of Makar Sankranti in Haridwar, India, on January 14, 2026.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#13193459

14 January 2026

A devotee arrives on the banks of the River Ganges on the occasion of the Hindu festival of Makar Sankranti in Haridwar, India, on January 14, 2026.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#13193460

14 January 2026

Devotees arrive on the banks of the River Ganges for the Hindu festival of Makar Sankranti in Haridwar, India, on January 14, 2026.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#13193464

14 January 2026

Devotees arrive on the banks of the River Ganges for the Hindu festival of Makar Sankranti in Haridwar, India, on January 14, 2026.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#13193466

14 January 2026

Devotees arrive on the banks of the River Ganges for the Hindu festival of Makar Sankranti in Haridwar, India, on January 14, 2026.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#13193470

14 January 2026

A devotee arrives on the banks of the River Ganges on the occasion of the Hindu festival of Makar Sankranti in Haridwar, India, on January 14, 2026.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#13193478

14 January 2026

Devotees arrive on the banks of the River Ganges for the Hindu festival of Makar Sankranti in Haridwar, India, on January 14, 2026.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#13187012

12 January 2026

Hindu devotees line up to collect free food at a transit camp on the way to Gangasagar in Kolkata, India, on January 12, 2026. Thousands of Hindu pilgrims travel to Gangasagar, where the Ganges River meets the Bay of Bengal, to take a holy dip on the auspicious occasion of the Makar Sankranti festival on January 14.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#13161040

6 January 2026

Devotees watch a mock drill at the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati Rivers, during the ongoing one-month-long annual traditional fair Magh Mela festival, in Prayagraj, India, on January 6, 2026.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#13154912

4 January 2026

A Naga Sadhu performs a ritual at a transit camp on the way to Ganganagar, a Hindu pilgrimage site where devotees visit for an annual holy dip, in Kolkata, India, on January 4, 2026.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#13154141

4 January 2026

A Sadhu (holy man) sits with devotees as he arrives on the banks of the Sangam area, the confluence of rivers Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati, during the one-month-long annual traditional fair Magh Mela festival, in Prayagraj, India, on January 4, 2026.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12627111

9 August 2025

Nepali novice priests take part in a ritualistic bath at an Ashram in the premises of Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, on August 9, 2025, while observing the festival of Janai Purnima, the festival of sacred threads observed in Nepal and India. Janai Purnima is the festival of threads with ritualistic bathing and tying the sacred thread ''Rakshya Bandhan'' on the wrist and ''Janai'' across the body by Hindu devotees. According to the scriptures, the sacred thread worn across the body of Hindu devotees is believed to have emerged from the Yagya, a sacrificial rite or performance of duty. A person who wears this sacred thread is full of energy, and this thread has two parts, each containing three threads: the first is Bramha, the second is Bishnu, and the third is Lord Shiva. These are the symbols of knowledge, meditation, and power. On the other side is nature, which is also considered the female companions of males: Saraswati of Bramha, Laxmi of Bishnu, and Parbati of Shiva. Those who do not wear Janai reach the nearby religious site and receive the 'Raksha Bandhan' thread, which is tied around the wrist as an amulet. The yellow thread is purified through the chanting of mantras by Brahmin priests as a symbol of protection from fear and disease. This sacred thread is made through the combination of 27 different types of threads. In astrology, there are 27 types of constellations, and the name of every human being is believed to be recorded in these constellations. This thread is tied around the wrist following the folklore about King Bali. Bali earns more virtue, which threatens the throne of King Indra. Then, after Bramha ties the thread around the wrist, it is followed since then in remembrance of Lord Bali.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12627112

9 August 2025

Nepali novice priests take part in a ritualistic bath at an Ashram in the premises of Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, on August 9, 2025, while observing the festival of Janai Purnima, the festival of sacred threads observed in Nepal and India. Janai Purnima is the festival of threads with ritualistic bathing and tying the sacred thread ''Rakshya Bandhan'' on the wrist and ''Janai'' across the body by Hindu devotees. According to the scriptures, the sacred thread worn across the body of Hindu devotees is believed to have emerged from the Yagya, a sacrificial rite or performance of duty. A person who wears this sacred thread is full of energy, and this thread has two parts, each containing three threads: the first is Bramha, the second is Bishnu, and the third is Lord Shiva. These are the symbols of knowledge, meditation, and power. On the other side is nature, which is also considered the female companions of males: Saraswati of Bramha, Laxmi of Bishnu, and Parbati of Shiva. Those who do not wear Janai reach the nearby religious site and receive the 'Raksha Bandhan' thread, which is tied around the wrist as an amulet. The yellow thread is purified through the chanting of mantras by Brahmin priests as a symbol of protection from fear and disease. This sacred thread is made through the combination of 27 different types of threads. In astrology, there are 27 types of constellations, and the name of every human being is believed to be recorded in these constellations. This thread is tied around the wrist following the folklore about King Bali. Bali earns more virtue, which threatens the throne of King Indra. Then, after Bramha ties the thread around the wrist, it is followed since then in remembrance of Lord Bali.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12627124

9 August 2025

Nepali novice priests soak in the sun after taking part in a ritualistic bath at an ashram in the premises of Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, on August 9, 2025, while observing the festival of Janai Purnima, the festival of sacred threads observed in Nepal and India. Janai Purnima is the festival of threads with ritualistic bathing and tying the sacred thread ''Rakshya Bandhan'' on the wrist and ''Janai'' across the body by Hindu devotees. According to the scriptures, the sacred thread worn across the body of Hindu devotees is believed to have emerged from the Yagya, a sacrificial rite or performance of duty. A person who wears this sacred thread is full of energy, and this thread has two parts, each containing three threads: the first is Bramha, the second is Bishnu, and the third is Lord Shiva. These are the symbols of knowledge, meditation, and power. On the other side is nature, which is also considered the female companions of males: Saraswati of Bramha, Laxmi of Bishnu, and Parbati of Shiva. Those who do not wear Janai reach the nearby religious site and receive the 'Raksha Bandhan' thread, which is tied around the wrist as an amulet. The yellow thread is purified through the chanting of mantras by Brahmin priests as a symbol of protection from fear and disease. This sacred thread is made through the combination of 27 different types of threads. In astrology, there are 27 types of constellations, and the name of every human being is believed to be recorded in these constellations. This thread is tied around the wrist following the folklore about King Bali. Bali earned more virtue, which threatened the throne of King Indra. Then, Bramha tied the thread around the wrist, and it is followed since then in remembrance of Lord Bali.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12627127

9 August 2025

A Nepali Hindu devotee changes the Janai on the embankments of the Bagmati River in Kathmandu, Nepal, on August 9, 2025, while marking the festival of Janai Purnima. Janai Purnima is the festival of threads with ritualistic bathing and tying the sacred thread ''Rakshya Bandhan'' on the wrist and ''Janai'' across the body by Hindu devotees. According to the scriptures, the sacred thread worn across the body of Hindu devotees is believed to have emerged from the Yagya, a sacrificial rite or performance of duty. A person who wears this sacred thread is full of energy, and this thread has two parts, each containing three threads: the first is Bramha, the second is Bishnu, and the third is Lord Shiva. These are symbols of knowledge, meditation, and power. On the other side is nature, which is also considered the female companions of males: Saraswati of Bramha, Laxmi of Bishnu, and Parbati of Shiva. Those who do not wear Janai reach the nearby religious site and receive the 'Raksha Bandhan' thread, which is tied around the wrist as an amulet. The yellow thread is purified through the chanting of mantras by Brahmin priests as a symbol of protection from fear and disease. This sacred thread is made through the combination of 27 different types of threads. In astrology, there are 27 types of constellations, and the name of every human being is believed to be recorded in these constellations. This thread is tied around the wrist following the folklore about King Bali. Bali earns more virtue, which threatens the throne of King Indra. Then, Bramha ties the thread around the wrist, and it is followed since then in remembrance of Lord Bali.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.