Devotees descend on Haridwar for monsoon festival

Thousands of devotees started descending Haridwar, a pilgrim city on the banks of Ganges River for a month-long monsoon festival. Clad in saffron dress, Pilgrims locally known as Kawarias take a dip in River Ganges, collect water from the river and take it back to their native places to offer it to Lord Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction. Hindus believe, taking a dip in the river and offering prayers on its banks during the Shravan month is auspicious.