India's Hindu Water Worshippers

By the shores of the Arabian Sea, India's Hindus cleanse their souls.

India's Hindus cleanse their souls
(Image credit: Jean-Leo Dugast)

By the shores of the Arabian Sea, India's Hindus cleanse their souls.

People have been making pilgrimages to Dwarka, an ancient Indian city in the province of Gujarat, for centuries. The city, which borders the Arabian Sea, is believed by Hindus to be one of the sacred places where Lord Krishna ruled, and the neighboring waters are thought to have healing powers. Although this spot — where a tributary from the Ganges River meets the sea — has recently become polluted by factory waste and sand from a broken dam, it hasn't stemmed the tide of bathers who arrive by the hundreds every month to "wash away" their sins and pray for good fortune.