Thursday, January 15, 2009

What can wash away my sins?

Location of Allahabad
Pilgrims taking a holy bath
(Below) Sangam the holy confluence of 3 rivers
All these photos are from the www.
A month long Hindu festival or religious congregation is taking place on the banks of the Ganges River in my city. The Hindus believe that if they take a sacred bath in the river on certain auspicious days their sins will be washed away and they come closer to heaven.
Here is what I found on the web.
The Biggest Bath in the World
Magh Mela is underway in Northern India, a cleansing ritual in the troubled Ganges for millions of pilgrims.
At the water’s edge, Magh Mela in Allahabad Photo: Alf Berg
At the new moon, during the sun’s season in Capricorn, the faithful come to Allahabad in Northern India. Here three rivers cross: the sacred Ganga (Ganges), the Yamuna, and the Saraswarti. (The latter, mentioned over and over in the Rig Veda, was long considered mythological, but scientists are proving otherwise; it’s real.)
This confluence, considered one of the most sacred sites in all India, draws believers each January for the Magh Mela, a 15-day festival of bathing. “Tents and huts sprout along the banks which come alive to chanted mantras, and chiming bells, sacred dips and the fragrance of incense and flowers. A huge township springs up on over 25 acres of vacant land, and elaborate arrangements are made to provide security and regular infrastructure to the approximately 40,000 sadhus, 500,000 kalpavasis and 20,000 people who come for a few days.”
__________________
What can wash away my sins
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
Posted by Amrita

4 comments:

Vicki said...

At first I thought this was a picture of someone getting baptized, but oh my! - nothing but the blood of Jesus can wash away sin. So true.

Praying that many would come out of spiritual darkness and know Jesus, the One who cleanses and restores.

Thanks, Amrita ♥

Felisol said...

Also a mighty reminder of the environment in which Sister Amrita lives.
Let's not forget to pray for the Christians in India.
From Felisol

Terry said...

Oh where would we be without the precious blood of Jesus Felisol and Vicki?
For sure we will be praying for Amrita.
The Christians at the prayer meeting last night were praying for that!
What really bothers me is that there is such a great crowd here and yet you can barley convince a few people to come to a gospel meeting to hear how they can have all of their sins cleansed!

"Why was I made to hear Thy voice,
And enter while there’s room,
When thousands make a wretched choice,
And rather starve than come?”

Oh we don't even deserve it but thanks to the Lord, He died for us..........
We will be praying for you dear Amrita and for your family, and for India...Love Terry

Amrita said...

Thank you Vicki,Felisol and Terry. Its such a pitiful sight to see people worshipping the created things around tham rather than the creator God.
They are like sheep without a shepherd.

We once witnessed to a group of western people who were dancing in front of idols. They must have been surprised how Indians were telling them to follow Jesus. But they believed that all gods are the same.One feels so frustrated when they say that. They respect Jesus but will not accept Him as Lord.

From Amrita