In a chilling yet powerful display of endurance, dozens of people immersed themselves in icy waters at a Tokyo shrine on Saturday, following a centuries-old Japanese tradition of purification and prayer for good health in the new year.

The annual ritual, held at the Kanda Myojin Shrine in downtown Tokyo, saw participants—mostly half-naked men dressed only in white loincloths and several women clad in white robes—braving the cold waters to cleanse their souls. Approximately 40 individuals gathered to take part in this traditional Shinto ceremony.

Before plunging into the icy pool, the participants engaged in physical exercises and a light jog around the shrine to warm up their bodies. They then entered a knee-deep pool filled with frigid water, further cooled by large chunks of ice. One by one, the participants dipped into the pool, pouring icy water over their heads using wooden buckets while chanting “Ei!” to energize themselves, as fellow participants and onlookers cheered them on.

The practice of bathing in cold water is deeply rooted in Shinto rituals, which emphasize purification to ward off evil spirits. While the main goal is to purify the soul, participants also pray for various blessings—such as good health, safe travels, success in business or exams, and safe childbirth.

Shinto, Japan’s indigenous religion, is based on animism and the belief that sacred spirits reside in living beings and nature. The cold-water ritual serves as a reminder of the deep connection between spirituality and nature, reflecting the importance of purification in Japanese culture.

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Millions of Hindu devotees, mystics, and holy men and women have gathered in the northern city of Prayagraj to mark the beginning of the Maha Kumbh festival, widely regarded as the world’s largest religious gathering. Spanning over the next six weeks, the festival will see pilgrims from across India converge at the confluence of three sacred rivers—the Ganges, the Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati. Here, they will partake in spiritual rituals, seeking liberation from the cycle of rebirth, which is central to Hindu philosophy.

The Sacred Gathering at the Confluence of Three Rivers

Hindus revere rivers, particularly the Ganges and the Yamuna, believing that bathing in their waters cleanses past sins and brings an end to the cycle of reincarnation. The most sacred and auspicious days for these pilgrimages occur every 12 years during the Maha Kumbh Mela, also known as the Pitcher Festival.

This tradition has been celebrated for centuries, with its roots tracing back to medieval times. Hindus believe that the mythical Saraswati river once flowed through Prayagraj, joining the Ganges and Yamuna at this spiritual nexus. While pilgrims bathe daily, the most intense and sacred moments occur on select dates, when naked, ash-covered monks rush to the holy waters at dawn to perform their rituals. Many devotees spend the entire festival period in Prayagraj, adhering to vows of austerity, giving alms, and bathing each day at sunrise.

Bhagwat Prasad Tiwari, a pilgrim, shared his experience: “We feel peaceful here and attain salvation from the cycles of life and death.”

A Festival Rooted in Hindu Mythology

The origins of the Kumbh Mela are deeply tied to Hindu mythology. According to the legend, the god Vishnu wrested a golden pitcher filled with the nectar of immortality from demons. As the gods and demons fought over it, a few drops of nectar fell in four cities—Prayagraj, Nasik, Ujjain, and Haridwar—marking them as sacred sites for the festival.

The Kumbh Mela rotates among these four cities every three years, with dates determined by astrology. This year’s Maha Kumbh is set to be the largest of all, eclipsing even the Ardh Kumbh Mela (a smaller version) held in 2019, which attracted a staggering 240 million visitors, with 50 million bathing on the busiest day.

An Unprecedented Gathering

At least 400 million people are expected to attend the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj over the next 45 days, far surpassing the 2 million pilgrims who attended the Hajj in Saudi Arabia in 2024. The festival is a colossal logistical challenge for the Indian government, offering a platform to highlight India’s cultural heritage, religious practices, and tourism potential.

To accommodate this influx, a sprawling “tent city” has been set up along the banks of the rivers, with over 3,000 kitchens and 150,000 restrooms. The city spans 40 square kilometers (15 square miles) and includes essential services like housing, roads, electricity, water, communication towers, and 11 hospitals. Murals illustrating stories from Hindu scriptures adorn the walls of the temporary city.

Indian Railways has also introduced more than 90 special trains, making nearly 3,300 trips to transport pilgrims. Security has been ramped up, with 50,000 personnel deployed—an increase of 50% from the 2019 festival. To prevent stampedes, over 2,500 cameras, many with AI capabilities, will monitor crowd movements and send real-time information to control rooms.

Political and Cultural Significance

The Maha Kumbh Mela is not just a religious event—it also plays a key role in Indian politics. With nearly 80% of India’s population identifying as Hindu, past leaders have used the festival to strengthen their ties with the Hindu community. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the festival has become a focal point for the promotion of Hindu nationalism, with the government emphasizing the inseparable connection between Indian civilization and Hinduism.

This year’s festival has received significant investment from the state of Uttar Pradesh, led by Yogi Adityanath, a powerful Hindu monk and influential politician within Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Over $765 million has been allocated to the event, with large billboards and posters featuring Modi and Adityanath alongside government welfare slogans.

The festival is also seen as an opportunity to boost the BJP’s support base by showcasing the party’s commitment to Hindu cultural symbols. However, recent Kumbh gatherings have been embroiled in controversy. In 2019, the Modi government changed the city’s name from Allahabad to Prayagraj, part of a broader trend of renaming cities with Muslim origins. In 2021, despite a surge in COVID-19 cases, the government faced criticism for not calling off the festival in Haridwar due to concerns over religious backlash.

Conclusion

The Maha Kumbh Mela is not only a spiritual pilgrimage for millions but also a grand cultural and political spectacle. As devotees immerse themselves in sacred rituals, the world watches as Prayagraj becomes the epicenter of Hindu faith, showcasing the magnitude of the festival and its importance in the broader context of India’s religious and political landscape.

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This weekend, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris will mark its grand reopening after the devastating fire of 2019. The occasion will be filled with ceremonies that bring the iconic landmark back to life, including the ceremonial opening of its doors, the revival of its powerful organ, and the first Mass held within its walls since the fire. These televised and carefully planned events will highlight both the resilience of France and the global significance of the cathedral.

The reopening ceremonies will begin on Saturday evening with Archbishop Laurent Ulrich leading over 1,500 guests in a special service. The following day, Sunday, will feature an inaugural Mass, complete with sacred rituals to consecrate the main altar.

The Great Doors Open

One of the most symbolic moments will come when Archbishop Ulrich taps on Notre Dame’s grand doors with his crosier, or bishop’s staff, to officially open them. This staff, designed specifically for the occasion by Sylvain Dubuisson, is made from wood salvaged from the cathedral’s roof, which collapsed during the fire.

In response to the archbishop’s knock, the cathedral will come alive with song as its choirs fill the space. The doors will then open, allowing guests to enter past the sculptures of biblical figures that adorn the cathedral’s entrance.

Reawakening the Organ

The sound of Notre Dame’s grand organ has been silent since the fire, when toxic dust from the lead roofing coated its 8,000 pipes. After the door-opening ceremony, the archbishop will awaken the organ with a series of eight commands, beginning with “Awaken, organ, sacred instrument: Sing the praise of God.”

Four organists will take turns playing the organ’s vast array of sounds. Seated at a newly renovated console, the organists will respond with improvised music based on their mood and the audience’s reactions. Olivier Latry, one of the organists, explains that while he has some ideas, the music will change depending on the moment, the atmosphere, and the crowd’s energy.

The organ’s meticulous re-tuning took about six months, with the pipes being cleaned and reassembled during late-night sessions to avoid disturbing the surrounding area.

Global Support for Restoration

Before the fire, fundraising for Notre Dame’s renovation had been slow. But the tragedy sparked an outpouring of support from around the world. Over 340,000 people from more than 150 countries donated a total of €846 million ($364 million), demonstrating the global affection for the cathedral, which is considered a cultural treasure by people of all faiths.

Michel Picaud, a fundraising committee member, recalls receiving 400 donations an hour, causing his smartphone to crash. He emphasized that Notre Dame belongs to everyone, not just the people of Paris, as evidenced by the donations from around the world. His nonprofit, Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris, raised $57 million from 50,000 international donors, many from the United States.

At the reopening, wealthy donors and dignitaries will join the ceremony alongside others who have benefited from charitable efforts. “The poorest among Parisians, those helped by charitable associations, will also be there,” said Rev. Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, the cathedral’s rector.

A Renewed Cathedral for a New Era

Although work continues on the exterior, the cathedral’s interior has been magnificently restored. The limestone walls have been cleaned, and the vaulted ceilings that collapsed in the fire have been repaired. New furnishings, including a replacement altar, have been added. The new altar stands where the original was destroyed when the cathedral’s spire collapsed in the blaze.

The rector notes that the cathedral has never looked more splendid, with the restored stonework, vibrant stained glass windows, and freshly cleaned artworks. “No one alive has seen the cathedral look like this,” he said, reflecting on the stunning transformations.

As the cathedral reopens, it stands not only as a symbol of spiritual significance but as a testament to resilience, a shared cultural heritage, and the collective effort of people worldwide.

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