Hinduism

An elerly sadhu (holy man) does yoga at the Gangasagar Mela, a Hindu pilgrimage to Sagar Island in the Bay of Bengal in India, where the Ganges River meets the sea.

Night scene on the beach at the Gangasagar Mela, Sagar Island, India. Gangasagar is a Hindu pilgrimage to Sagar Island, where the Ganges meets the sea.

Men hawk jewelry and souvenirs to Hindu pilgrims riding in boats on the Ganges River, Varanasi, India.

Men hawk jewelry and souvenirs to Hindu pilgrims riding in boats on the Ganges River, Varanasi, India.

An elerly sadhu (holy man) does yoga at the Gangasagar Mela, a Hindu pilgrimage to Sagar Island in the Bay of Bengal in India, where the Ganges River meets the sea.

Pilgrims bathe in the Bay of Bengal at the Gangasagar Mela (Festival), a pilgrimage to Sagar Island in India, where the Ganges River meets the sea.

A Hindu pilgrim takes photos of the Kapil Muni temple on Sagar Island, India, during the Gangsagar Mela.

Paintings inside a temple, Sarnath, India.

Roses in the feet of a Buddha statue in a temple at the Thai Buddha Vihar in Sarnath, India. Sarnath, just north of Varanasi, is where the Buddha gave his first sermon, and is a modern day pilgrimage site.

Pilgrims bath in the Hindu holy city of Pushkar during the full moon Puja (Kartik Purnima) of November 2012, Pushkar, Rajasthan, India.

A lantern burns during a ritual at the Gangasagar Mela, on the beach of Sagar Island in the Bay of Bengal, India.

Shrine at the base of the 80 foot tall statue of Buddha at the Thai Buddha Vihar in Sarnath, India - the tallest statue of Buddha in India.

Pilgrims bath in the Hindu holy city of Pushkar during the full moon Puja (Kartik Purnima) of November 2012, Pushkar, Rajasthan, India.

Huts and buildings reflecting in a pond in 24 South Parganas, south of Kolkata, India.

Hindu pilgrims at the Gangasagar Mela, Sagar Island, India.

Large swastika on the steps of Jain Ghat, Varanasi, India.

A boy digs a pit in the beach at the 2013 Kumbh Mela, Allahabad, India.

Two Hindu men who have shaved their heads as part of a religious ritual, Varanasi, India.

Hindu pilgrims stop at Babughat in Kolkata to rest and eat en route to the Gangasagar Mela on Sagar Island, India.

Brightly colored tents and Coca-Cola banners ar the 2013 Kumbh Mela, Allahabad, India.

One of two brothers with leprosy at the Gangasagar Mela (festival), a pilgrimage to Sagar Island in India, where the Ganges River meets the sea.

Celebration at a temple to the Goddess Ganga, on World Ganges Day, Varanasi, India.

A family in a tent the 2013 Kumbh Mela, Allahabad, India.

A tourist takes a photograph of a man praying along the Ganges River, Varanasi, India.

A ferry full of Hindu pilgirms travels to Sagar Island in the Bay of Bengal, India, for the Gangasagar Mela.

Beached fishing vessel on the beach at the Gangasagar Mela, Sagar Island, India.

Pilgrims perform puja (prayer) with coconuts on the beach at the Gangasagar Mela, Sagar Island, India. Gangasagar is a Hindu pilgrimage to Sagar Island, where the Ganges meets the sea.

Sadhu (holy man) near Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India.

Pilgrims walk on the beach at sunset during the Gangasagar Mela, Sagar Island, India.

An Indian Navy hovercraft shuttles VIPs out of the Gangasagar Mela, a Hindu pilgrimage to Sagar Island in the Bay of Bengal in India, where the Ganges meets the sea.

Pilgrims wait at Babughat in Kolkata, India en route to the Gangasagar Mela, a Hindu pilgrimage to Sagar Island in the Bay of Bengal.

Hindu pilgrims ride horses and bathe along the Ganges River, Varanasi, India.

A boy trudges through mud on the banks of a river on Sagar Island in the Bay of Bengal, India, during the Gangasagar Hindu pilgrimage.

A sadhu (holy man) in Kolkata, India gestures as he prepares to make a pilgrimage to Sagar Island in the Bay of Bengal for the Gangasagar Mela.

Pilgrims wait at Babughat in Kolkata, India en route to the Gangasagar Mela, a Hindu pilgrimage to Sagar Island in the Bay of Bengal.

A man in white meditates on the banks of the Ganges River, Varanasi, India.

Children near the Kakdwip railway station south of Kolkata, India wait to catch coins thrown by pilgrims arriving from the Gangasagar Mela (festival) on nearby Sagar Island.

A Naga Sadhu (holy man) smokes a pipe and meditates at a staging area in Kolkata, India for pilgrims going to the Gangasagar Mela on Sagar Island south of Kolkata.

A pilgrim sits next to a painting of Jesus at a staging area in Kolkata, India for pilgrims going to the Gangasagar Mela on Sagar Island south of Kolkata.

An elerly sadhu (holy man) does yoga at the Gangasagar Mela, a Hindu pilgrimage to Sagar Island in the Bay of Bengal in India, where the Ganges River meets the sea.

An elerly sadhu (holy man) does yoga at the Gangasagar Mela, a Hindu pilgrimage to Sagar Island in the Bay of Bengal in India, where the Ganges River meets the sea.

A girl collects discarded coconuts in the Bay of Bengal at the Gangasagar Mela (festival), a pilgrimage to Sagar Island in India, where the Ganges River meets the sea.

Tents are reflected into a pond at night at the Gangsagar Mela, Sagar Island, India.

A huge line of Hindu pilgrims wait to board a ferry to leave the Gangasagar Mela on Sagar Island for the mainland back to Kolkata, India. The Gangasagar Mela (festival) is a pilgrimage to Sagar Island, where the Ganges River meets the sea.

Pilgrims bathe in the Bay of Bengal at the Gangasagar Mela (Festival), a pilgrimage to Sagar Island in India, where the Ganges River meets the sea.

Pilgrims crowd a train heading south from Sealdah station in Kolkata, India to Kakdwip station near Sagar Island, for the Gangasagar Mela.

Gold Buddha in a temple in Sarnath, India. Sarnath is where the Buddha gave his first sermon.

Children play along the banks of the Ganges River at the 2013 Kumbh Mela, Allahabad, India.

A father and son bathe in the Bay of Bengal during the Gangasagar Mela, Sagar Island, India.

An idol is covered up and "put to sleep for the night" at a temple near Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India.

Floral garlands in front of the sinking Shiva Temple, Manikarnika Ghat, Varanasi, India.

Hindu pilgrims perform prayers to departed relatives along the Ganges River, Varanasi, India.

A boy hold his baby sister in the Bay of Bengal at the Gangasagar Mela (festival), a pilgrimage to Sagar Island in India, where the Ganges River meets the sea.

Pilgrims sleeping outside at the Gangasagar Mela, Sagar Island, India.

A boy in Kolkata, India dressed as Shiva receives baksheesk (donations) at a staging area for pilgrims going to the Gangasagar Mela on Sagar Island south of Kolkata.

Distinctive yellow temple at Kshameshwar Ghat, Varanasi, India.

Pilgrims crowd a train heading south from Sealdah station in Kolkata, India to Kakdwip station near Sagar Island, for the Gangasagar Mela.

Children near the Kakdwip railway station south of Kolkata, India wait to catch coins thrown by pilgrims arriving from the Gangasagar Mela (festival) on nearby Sagar Island.

An elerly sadhu (holy man) does yoga at the Gangasagar Mela, a Hindu pilgrimage to Sagar Island in the Bay of Bengal in India, where the Ganges River meets the sea.

A man prays and bathes in the Ganges River, Varanasi, India.

Pilgrims bathe in the Bay of Bengal on Makar Sankranti (Jan. 14) at the Gangasagar Mela, a Hindu pilgrimage to Sagar Island in the Bay of Bengal in India, where the Ganges River meets the sea.

A group of women bathe and pray in the Bay of Bengal at the Gangasagar Mela (festival), a pilgrimage to Sagar Island in India, where the Ganges River meets the sea.

Tents at the 2013 Kumbh Mela, Allahabad, India.

Rice paddies south of Kolkata, India in an area called South 24 Parganas.

A table with apples used in prayer rituals sits in the waters of the Bay of Bangal on the beach at the Gangasagar Mela, Sagar Island, India.

A man adjusts a light bulb at a camp at the 2013 Kumbh Mela, Allahabad, India.

Pilgrims bathe in the Bay of Bengal on Makar Sankranti (Jan. 14) at the Gangasagar Mela, a Hindu pilgrimage to Sagar Island in the Bay of Bengal in India, where the Ganges River meets the sea.

Hare Krishnas sell books among Christmas lights at Newmarket, Kokata, India.

Pilgrims crowd the Sealdah Railway Station platform to travel to Sagar Island, India for the Gangasagar Mela, a Hindu pilgrimage that attracts a million people.

Pilgrims bathing en masse along the Ganges River at the 2013 Kumbh Mela, Allahabad, India.

Sinking temple at Scindi Ghat, Varanasi, India.

A group of women pilgrims pray on the beach at Sagar Island in the Bay of Bengal during the Gangasagar Mela, India.

Pilgrims pray at Kapil Muni temple on Sagar Island, India, during the Gangasagar Mela, a Hindu pilgrimage that attracts a million people.

Idol of Tara Maa in a pandal during Tara Maa Puja, Lake Gardens, Kolkata, India.