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Major Events In India, China And North America
By KTM Metro Reporter
February 10, 2013: more than 30 million pilgrims have taken a holy dip at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers at Khumba in India today, as it is the most auspicious day to do so. They believe that lifetime sins would be washed away taking a holy dip in the confluences of these two rivers.
The festival's police chief RKS Rathore said that the turnout of devotees today would be "unprecedented". He said some 12 million people had arrived at the festival grounds yesterday alone. "All of them are staying back for Sunday's bathe. We seem to be set for a historic turnout. I have been patrolling on horseback for a better view of the crowds. I can only see a sea of humanity everywhere," Mr Rathore told reporters. The bathing on Sunday - the most auspicious day according to Hindu tradition - is taking place at 18 main locations along the riverbank, according to the BCC NEWS.
Rajkumar Singh, a government worker from the state of Punjab, said: "I have traveled for three days by bus, train and foot to reach the festival. "I believe a bathe on the most auspicious day will get rid of all my sins and will help secure me and my family's future," BBC NEWS quotes Singh.
Millions of people are celebrating Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, the most important annual holiday in much of Asia. The New Year began in China at midnight, with firework displays and family gatherings. It marked the opening of the year of the snake, taking over from the dragon. In China, an estimated 200 million people have traveled to be with their families in what is considered the biggest mass human migration on Earth. The BBC's John Sudworth, in Shanghai, says the big cities have been emptied of migrant workers, who are now at home in the far-flung provinces, reunited with family, often including their own young children, for the first time since last Lunar New Year. On Saturday evening, an anticipated 700 million people tuned in for state television's annual TV gala, a variety performance show in which Celine Dion was due to sing her theme tune from the movie Titanic, according to the BBC NEWS.
Thousands of people across large swathes of the northeastern United States and eastern Canada are clearing up after an intense snowstorm. Several people died, among them an 11-year-old boy, and some 700,000 homes and businesses were left without power. In many areas, more than three feet (90cm) of snow fell in a matter of hours, downing power lines, grounding planes and paralyzing transport. The states of Massachusetts and Connecticut lifted vehicle travel bans. In New York's Suffolk County, police said they had rescued hundreds of motorists stuck overnight on the Long Island Expressway. More than 5,000 flights were cancelled on Saturday, though Boston's Logan International Airport, and the three airports serving New York City were gradually re-opening, according to the BBC NEWS.
