Hindu pilgrims plunge into the sea for festival

The annual festival in the Ganges, at the site where it meets the Bay of Bengal, is considered auspicious by Hindus.

Devout Hindus believe that those who bathe in the Ganges on January 14, referred to as Makar Sankranti, are absolved of their sins.

Pilgrims at the fair played cymbals and sang religious songs, while others shopped at the various stalls that were put up especially for the event. Thousands of security personnel were also deployed to the island.

The annual Makar Sankranti festival, marks the transition of the Sun into the zodiac sign of Capricorn from Sagittarius. It is one of the largest annual gatherings for devout Hindus.

The fair runs from January 12-15.

Source: The Telegraph