Kathmandu (AsiaNews) – Nepal’s government celebrates Hindu’s Kumbh Mela with millions of people around the world to provide financial and logistical support only to this event.
Festival of Maha Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years, the great event began yesterday for more than a month bringing holy men to Chataradham in the southern part of the country.
A similar event is held in India. It involves actually a pilgrimage to the Sapta Koshi, a holy river, where pilgrims perform meditations and ablutions.
In Nepal, celebrations attract some 10 million people; in India, it can draw up to 100 million.
Nepali Prime Minister Sushil Koirala opened the celebration yesterday (31.03.2014). In order to help in the celebrations, his government allocated more than 5 million rupees (about US$ 50,000), including free shuttle service to and from the venues of the festival, as well as free room and board to pilgrims. The event is scheduled to end on 2 May 2014.