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These are images that cause a certain discomfort among outsiders: tens of thousands of Hindus have gathered on the Ganges to celebrate the festival of Kumbh Mela (festival of the jug).
In addition, the pilgrims in the north Indian city of Haridwar climb into the so-called River of Hope.
According to their beliefs, they will be delivered from their sins and from the cycle of birth and death.
Many of the participants clearly did not keep their distance from one another on Monday.
The ritual is one of the most sacred ceremonies of the Hindus and takes place in Haridwar only every twelve years.
People are convinced "that Mother Ganga will save them from this pandemic," said Siddharth Chakrapani, a member of one of the Kumbh Mela's organizing committees, the AFP news agency.
Daily record: 184,000 new infections
On Wednesday, India reported 184,000 new infections within 24 hours, the largest daily increase since the beginning of the pandemic.
Local governments decided on night curfews and severe restrictions, and the central government postponed upcoming school exams on Wednesday.
So far, she has avoided a new nationwide lockdown like last year for fear of the economic consequences.
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Critics accuse Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party of allowing the festival amid the spread of the virus.
The government was not ready to anger Hindus, who are among the party's biggest supporters.
The government has also been criticized for holding large election rallies with unmasked attendees.
It is the hope for an end to the eternal cycle of life and death
Source: REUTERS
Some of the pilgrims had their bodies painted beforehand
Source: REUTERS
The Haridwar authorities have announced that the festival has been shortened.
Coronavirus tests are also required for access to the pilgrimage area.
"We continuously call on people to behave appropriately for Covid-19," said Sanjay Gunjyal from the police.
"But because of the huge amount it is practically impossible." The "Festival of the Jug" is the largest festival of Hinduism in the world.
After the festival: 1002 positive corona tests
Now more than 1000 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in India.
Of around 50,000 tests taken within two days at the Kumbh Mela Festival in Haridwar, 1002 were positive, officials said on Wednesday.
Experts blame major religious events and political election rallies for the current wave of coronavirus infections in India.
Only recently, India overtook Brazil as the country with the second highest number of corona infections worldwide.
The huge nation has so far recorded 13.9 million cases out of a population of 1.3 billion.