alternating between four cities. over the course of eight weeks it attracts upwards of 120 million people including 1 million international visitors. devotes will bathe in sacred rivers to cleanse them of vices to come one step closer to salvation. the name comes from a hindu story about the guard of ishnu in disguise battling over a picture of nectar with demons. in the 12-day strike four drops of the nectar of mortality fell to the earth on the sites that now host the festival. the festival incapsulates the science of astronomy, spirituality and ritual. you'll see all types of people from conventional practitioners of hinduism to hurmermits.