Devotees across India celebrate 'Guru Purnima'

Haridwar/Allahabad/Ayodhya/Varanasi, July 15 (ANI): Scores of devotees across India thronged various religious places on Friday to celebrate the Hindu festival of 'Guru Purnima'.

The devotees also took a holy dip in the river Ganges in Haridwar.

"The holy dip in river Ganges is very auspicious. It washes away all your sins and helps to maintain peace in your house. Some devotees take the holy water to their houses and offer the pious water to Lord Shiva's lingam (representation of Lord Shiva used in Hindu temples), said Kamta Prasad Pandey, a holy man.

" They also offer prayers to their teachers (gurus) and forefathers so that peace and prosperity prevails in their house," he added.

In some places, the Kanwariya pilgrims took holy water of river Ganges in little pots to offer it to their Hindu Lord Shiva, a ritual, which marks the beginning of the month of 'Sawan'.

Many devotees chanted hymns and made a beeline to pay respect to their gurus.

In the holy city of Allahabad, a seat of Hindu religious education, various sacred rituals were performed to celebrate the occasion.

In some other parts of northern India, the festival was also celebrated by community lunches being organised for the devotees, who visited their Gurus and sought their blessings.

"On the occasion of Buddha Purnima, we offer prayers to Dhwaja (flags) of our Lord as we are ascetics. Firstly, we pray to our flags and then we offer prayers to our Guru (teacher). I just offered prayers to my Guru Maha Shiv.

Later, the devotees will be offering prayers to their Guru," said Mahant Adarsh Ji, another holy man.

"All our followers or students arrive at Baghambari Gaddi, will have lunch and would seek blessings. Later, a community lunch will be organised for the devotees," he added.

Meanwhile, the people from various parts of Haryana offered prayers to their Gurus in the holy city of Ayodhya.

According to Hindu beliefs, a guru holds an exalted position, even higher than that of the God.

"On this special occasion of Guru Purnima, we have come here from Ambala, Haryana, seeking blessings of Maharaj (Niritya Gopal Das). We come here every year along with our families, friends and relatives to pray to our guru," said Ashok Kumar Dixit, a devotee from Haryana. (ANI)