MUMBAI, INDIA, July 24, 2003: (Note: this report appeared four days earlier than the above report) Preparations for pilgrimage on a grand scale are being made in Maharashtra for the Grand Pitcher festival or Kumbh Mela. Expecting hundreds of thousands to millions of Hindus in the twin towns of Nasik and Trimbakeshwar, 125 miles from Mumbai, the high point of the festival will be on August 17. On that day, ash-smeared sadhus and other devotees will bathe in the Godavari River in groups of 10,000 at a time. To protect pilgrims, India has hired 10,000 police and installed hidden cameras for the duration of the event. Senior local official Vinay Pathak says, “We have taken full precautions against terrorist attacks.” Click here for a list of Mela web sites.
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