By Girish Kumar Dubey
Hindu devotees took a dip in a water tank in order to be blessed with children and be cured of their diseases in Varanasi city of India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Saturday (September 03).
'Lolark Chhath' is celebrated two days after the festival of 'Ganesh Chaturthi', the birthday of the Hindu God Ganesha.
A local temple priest informed about the significance of the event.
"If one takes a holy dip here, then his wish of bearing a child is fulfilled. People offer fruits here and after they have offered, they do not take it back," said Anand Tiwari, a local priest.
According to Hindu legend, it is believed that the Sun God had meditated at this holy site of water tank for thousands of years. Thus, locals believe that the water of the tank has been purified and holds curative powers.
The villagers are also heard narrating the folklore of the pious water being capable of curing skin diseases, leprosy and other serious ailments.
However, the villagers are confident in the powers of the water in the holy tank. They believe that people shall be bestowed with offsprings, irrespective of caste and class.
Childless couples come from across the country to take a dip and perform traditional rituals at the water tank.
"My wish has been fulfilled. We had prayed for a child after taking a holy dip here and our wish was fulfilled," said Reshma, a devotee.
As per sacred rituals, the childless couples who take a dip in the water tank, leave behind their clothes and shoes at the bathing site, signifying the start of a new life.
Devotees who are blessed with children flock to the water tank and the temple to present religious offerings. They also get their children tonsured in an act of gratitude to the gods.
Hopeful to be blessed with children, hundreds of Hindu devotees take a holy dip in India's northern Uttar Pradesh state, on the occasion of Lolark Chhath.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL
VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (SEPTEMBER 03, 2011) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)
1. DEVOTEES STANDING
2. DEVOTEES TAKING A HOLY DIP
3. DEVOTEES TAKING DIPS IN A WATER TANK
4. DEVOTEES STANDING
5. A DEVOTEE WALKING DOWN THE STAIRS TO THE WATER TANK
6. DEVOTEES GATHERING AT THE WATER TANK
7. DEVOTEES WALKING DOWN THE STAIRS TO THE WATER TANK
8. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) ANAND TIWARI, A LOCAL PRIEST, SAYING:
"If one takes a holy dip here, then his wish of bearing a child is fulfilled. People offer fruits here and after they have offered, they do not take it back."
9. DEVOTEES OFFERING PRAYERS
10. A PRIEST STANDING
11. A DEVOTEE PLAYING DRUMS
12. A DEVOTEE SITTING, CARRYING A CHILD IN HER ARMS
13. A LOCAL PREPARING A DISH
14. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) RESHMA, A DEVOTEE, SAYING:
"My wish has been fulfilled. We had prayed for a child after taking a holy dip here and our wish was fulfilled."
15. DEVOTEES WALKING DOWN THE STAIRS TO THE WATER TANK
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