Rites Around the World

Artists perform the traditional Chinese lion dance during Lunar New Year celebrations
in Chinatown in Mexico City February 9, 2013.

People burn incense to pray for good fortune on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year at Yonghegong Lama Temple, in Beijing February 10, 2013.

A Chinese man prays for health and fortune on the first day of the Lunar New Year at Yonghegong Lama Temple in Beijing Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013.

Dancers perform a dragon dance inside a gold center in celebration of the Lunar New Year in Manila's Chinatown February 10, 2013.

A man holds a plastic flower as a temple is decorated ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in Bangkok's Chinatown February 8, 2013.

Traditional Chinese dancers wait to perform ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in Suphan Buri province, about 105 km north of Bangkok February 8, 2013.

A woman prays during a mass at a catholic church in Seoul February 12, 2013.

Pope Benedict XVI arrives in St. Peter's Basilica on the occasion of the celebration of Ash Wednesday mass at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013.

Cardinals applaud Pope Benedcit XVI during the Ash Wednesday mass at the Vatican February 13, 2013.

Pope Benedict XVI is helped by master of ceremonies to walk on the altar as he celebrates
the Ash Wednesday mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013.

Pope Benedict XVI is sprinkled with ashes during the Ash Wednesday mass at the Vatican February 13, 2013.

Pope Benedict XVI sprinkles ashes on Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone during the Ash Wednesday mass at the Vatican February 13, 2013.

Pope Benedict XVI celebrates the Ash Wednesday mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013.

September 1978 file photo provided by the German Catholic News Agency KNA, Albanian-born Mother Teresa, and German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, attend a Mass during the 85th German Catholics Day in Freiburg, southern Germany, from Sept. 13-19, 1978.

German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger blesses the coffin of Pope John Paul II during his funeral mass
in St Peter's Square at the Vatican City, April 8, 2005.

The Magh Mela is one of the greatest annual religious affairs for Hindus. Hindu mythology considers the origin of the Magh Mela to be the beginning of the Universe. An important occasion, the Magh Mela is held every year on the banks of Triveni Sangam (the confluence of the three great rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati) in Prayag near Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh.

Worship at Magh MelaIn accordance with the traditional Hindu calendar followed in North India, this holy fair is organised every year during the Hindu month of Magh (corresponding to mid January - mid February of the Gregorian calendar); hence the name. The Magh Mela is, however, not confined only to the month of Magh and the important bathing dates are spread over a period of 45 days. The Magh Mela is actually a smaller version of Kumbh Mela. Hence it is also known as mini Kumbh Mela.

Every year, the Magh Mela commences on the day of Makkar Sankranti in January, which is the first important bathing day according to the religious Hindu calendar. It begins with multitudes of pilgrims taking a holy dip at the Sangam on auspicious dates. A large number of people arrive here annually and stay in makeshift houses or tents at the Sangam, spending the entire month of Magh in prayers. This period is known as "Kalpvas". Those who religiously observe the "Kalpvas" are known as "Kalpvasis".

The ancient Hindu Vedas mention a "Kalp" to be the period equal to the total number of years in the four yugas - Satyug, Treta, Dwapar and Kalyug. This adds up to several millions of years. Magh MelaIt is said that by piously observing a "Kalpavas", a devotee overcomes the sins in his/her previous birth and escapes the cycle of Janma(birth) and Karma (actions). During each day of the Magh Mela, a Kalpvasi has to take a dip at the Ganges on sunrise praying to the rising sun. Majority of the Kalpvasis partake only a meal a day. After observing 12 Kalpavas, a Kalpavasi has to donate his/her bed and all his belongings (a ritual known as "Shayya Daan").

Every twelfth year, the Magh Mela is transformed into the Kumbha Mela. Uttar Pradesh is flooded with millions of pilgrims who arrive here during this time to attend this grand event.

Èíäóèñòñêèå ñâÿùåííîñëóæèòåëè ñîâåðøàþò îáðÿä, ñæèãàÿ âûñóøåííûé êîðîâèé íàâîç â ãîðøêàõ íàä ñâîåé ãîëîâîé, â Ñàíãàìå, ìåñòå ñëèÿíèÿ Ãàíãà, ßìóíû è ìèôè÷åñêîé ðåêè Ñàðàñâàòè, íà ïðàçäíèêå Âàñàíòà-ïàí÷àìè, êîòîðûé ïðîõîäèò âî âðåìÿ åæåãîäíîãî òðàäèöèîííîãî ôåñòèâàëÿ «Ìàãõà-ìåëà» â Àëëàõàáàäå, Èíäèÿ, 28 ÿíâàðÿ 2012 ãîäà. (AP / Rajesh Kumar Singh)

Ïàëîìíèêè ïðèáûâàþò â Ñàíãàì, ìåñòî ñëèÿíèÿ Ãàíãà, ßìóíû è ìèôè÷åñêîé ðåêè Ñàðàñâàòè, âî âðåìÿ èíäóèñòñêîãî ðåëèãèîçíîãî ôåñòèâàëÿ «Ìàãõà-ìåëà» â Àëëàõàáàäå, Èíäèÿ, 23 ÿíâàðÿ 2012 ãîäà. Ôåñòèâàëü «Ìàãõà-ìåëà» äëèòñÿ îäèí ìåñÿö. (AP /)

Èíäóèñòñêèå ñâÿùåííîñëóæèòåëè ñîâåðøàþò îáðÿäû, ñèäÿ â öåíòðå êðóãà èç âûñóøåííîãî êîðîâüåãî íàâîçà, â Ñàíãàìå, ìåñòå ñëèÿíèÿ Ãàíãà, ßìóíû è ìèôè÷åñêîé ðåêè Ñàðàñâàòè, âî âðåìÿ åæåãîäíîãî èíäóèñòñêîãî ðåëèãèîçíîãî ôåñòèâàëÿ «Ìàãõà-ìåëà» â Àëëàõàáàäå, Èíäèÿ, 30 ÿíâàðÿ 2012 ãîäà. Ôåñòèâàëü «Ìàãõà-ìåëà» äëèòñÿ îäèí ìåñÿö. (AP / Rajesh Kumar Singh)

Ñàäõó ñîâåðøàåò îìîâåíèå â Ñàíãàìå, ìåñòå ñëèÿíèÿ Ãàíãà, ßìóíû è ìèôè÷åñêîé ðåêè Ñàðàñâàòè, íà ïðàçäíèêå Âàñàíòà-ïàí÷àìè, êîòîðûé ïðîõîäèò âî âðåìÿ åæåãîäíîãî òðàäèöèîííîãî ôåñòèâàëÿ «Ìàãõà-ìåëà» â Àëëàõàáàäå, Èíäèÿ, 30 ÿíâàðÿ 2012 ãîäà. (AP / Rajesh Kumar Singh)

Æèòåëüíèöû Èíäèè ìîëÿòñÿ â Ñàíãàìå, ìåñòå ñëèÿíèÿ Ãàíãà, ßìóíû è ìèôè÷åñêîé ðåêè Ñàðàñâàòè, íà ïðàçäíèêå Âàñàíòà-ïàí÷àìè, êîòîðûé ïðîõîäèò âî âðåìÿ åæåãîäíîãî òðàäèöèîííîãî ôåñòèâàëÿ «Ìàãõà-ìåëà» â Àëëàõàáàäå, Èíäèÿ, 28 ÿíâàðÿ 2012 ãîäà. (AP / Rajesh Kumar Singh)

Èíäóèñòñêèå ñâÿùåííîñëóæèòåëè ñîâåðøàþò îáðÿäû, ñèäÿ â öåíòðå êðóãà èç âûñóøåííîãî êîðîâüåãî íàâîçà, â Ñàíãàìå, ìåñòå ñëèÿíèÿ Ãàíãà, ßìóíû è ìèôè÷åñêîé ðåêè Ñàðàñâàòè, âî âðåìÿ åæåãîäíîãî èíäóèñòñêîãî ðåëèãèîçíîãî ôåñòèâàëÿ «Ìàãõà-ìåëà» â Àëëàõàáàäå, Èíäèÿ, 29 ÿíâàðÿ 2012 ãîäà. Ôåñòèâàëü «Ìàãõà-ìåëà» äëèòñÿ îäèí ìåñÿö. (AP / Rajesh Kumar Singh)

Ñàäõó êóðèò ìàðèõóàíó â Ñàíãàìå, ìåñòå ñëèÿíèÿ Ãàíãà, ßìóíû è ìèôè÷åñêîé ðåêè Ñàðàñâàòè, âî âðåìÿ åæåãîäíîãî èíäóèñòñêîãî ðåëèãèîçíîãî ôåñòèâàëÿ «Ìàãõà-ìåëà» â Àëëàõàáàäå, Èíäèÿ, 29 ÿíâàðÿ 2012 ãîäà. Ôåñòèâàëü «Ìàãõà-ìåëà» äëèòñÿ îäèí ìåñÿö. (AP / Rajesh Kumar Singh)

Èíäóèñòñêèé ñâÿùåííîñëóæèòåëü ïüåò ÷àé â Ñàíãàìå, ìåñòå ñëèÿíèÿ Ãàíãà, ßìóíû è ìèôè÷åñêîé ðåêè Ñàðàñâàòè, âî âðåìÿ åæåãîäíîãî èíäóèñòñêîãî ðåëèãèîçíîãî ôåñòèâàëÿ «Ìàãõà-ìåëà» â Àëëàõàáàäå, Èíäèÿ, 29 ÿíâàðÿ 2012 ãîäà. Ôåñòèâàëü «Ìàãõà-ìåëà» äëèòñÿ îäèí ìåñÿö. (AP / Rajesh Kumar Singh)

Ïàðà èíäóèñòîâ ìîëèòñÿ â Ñàíãàìå, ìåñòå ñëèÿíèÿ Ãàíãà, ßìóíû è ìèôè÷åñêîé ðåêè Ñàðàñâàòè, íà ïðàçäíèêå Âàñàíòà-ïàí÷àìè, êîòîðûé ïðîõîäèò âî âðåìÿ åæåãîäíîãî òðàäèöèîííîãî ôåñòèâàëÿ «Ìàãõà-ìåëà» â Àëëàõàáàäå, Èíäèÿ, 28 ÿíâàðÿ 2012 ãîäà. (AP / Rajesh Kumar Singh)

Æèòåëüíèöû Èíäèè ìîëÿòñÿ â Ñàíãàìå, ìåñòå ñëèÿíèÿ Ãàíãà, ßìóíû è ìèôè÷åñêîé ðåêè Ñàðàñâàòè, íà ïðàçäíèêå Âàñàíòà-ïàí÷àìè, êîòîðûé ïðîõîäèò âî âðåìÿ åæåãîäíîãî òðàäèöèîííîãî ôåñòèâàëÿ «Ìàãõà-ìåëà» â Àëëàõàáàäå, Èíäèÿ, 28 ÿíâàðÿ 2012 ãîäà. (AP / Rajesh Kumar Singh)