Dalai Lama Stays Dry

The Dalai Lama tossed marigold petals at children who greeted him with garlands Thursday at the world's largest religious gathering, the Kumbh festival, but said it was too cold to join millions of Hindus bathing in the Ganges River.

"I'm very happy to be here. My first pilgrimage to the Kumbh was in 1966," the Dalai Lama told journalists. Asked if he would join the devotees bathing in the icy river in a ceremony the Hindus believe will wash away their sins and avoid reincarnation, the Dalai Lama said, "I don't think so. It's too cold."

Hindus thronged the site to dip themselves in the waters because they believe bathing at a sacred place during an auspicious period will cleanse them of sin, halting the cycle of death and rebirth. According to Hindu astrologers, the planets and stars are in a special alignment that occurs once every 144 years, making the festival, held every 12 years, especially auspicious this year. The festival drew 32 million people Wednesday.

The Dalai Lama greeted the children and journalists in an enclosed barrack-style building, protected by black-clad Indian commandos and his own bodyguards, in the center of the 3,460 acre festival site.

A winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, the Dalai Lama first met for lunch and discussions with leaders of the World Hindu Council, an influential group that criticizes Christians and Muslims and wants to make India a Hindu state.

He made comments agreeing with the council members on their opposition to Christians and Muslims being allowed to make converts, a major religious controversy in India.

"Whether Hindu or Muslim or Christian, whoever tries to convert, it's wrong, not good," he said. "I always believe it's safer and better and reasonable to keep one's own tradition or belief."

The Hindu Council's general secretary, Ashok Singhal told reporters, "Buddhism, Hinduism and other non-aggressive religions have to unite to douse Islam ... an aggressive religion."

Later, at dusk, the Dalai Lama joined the Shankaracharya of Kanchi, one of India's four top Hindu religious leaders, in a special prayer on the banks of the Ganges.

The two religious leaders stood on an elevated wooden platform covered with white sheets and worshipped the Ganges with 108 lighted lamps in a tradition that goes back centuries. An estimated 20,000 people watched the ceremony from behind wooden barricades, while hymns were sung in the background.

The Dalai Lama then reached down to the river and sprinkled some of the water on his head in a mark of respect to the sacred river. Allahabad, 380 miles east of New Delhi, is the site of the confluence of the dark blue waters of the Yamuna River, the gray sandy currents of the Ganges and the mythical Saraswati.

"This confluence has become a very important venue for Hindu and Buddhist religious congregations. Now this function should come up as a important venue for a change of character and thought of people to make them work for peace," the Dalai Lama said in a speech.

The Dalai Lama planned to stay through Friday, to meet and bless Buddhists and give a public speech on world peace at the festival grounds.

Worshippers who were pressed against each other on pontoon bridges, waiting hours for their turn to bathe in the river, watched and waved as his convoy of white cars drove through the center of the festival site.

The grounds were crowded with devotees of different religions, naked Hindu holy men, nuns with shaved heads, palm readers, anti-abortion activists, and performers.

A snake charmer wrapped a baby python around his three-year-old son and collected money from onlookers. Another man had less luck dancing with an earthen pot on his head.

Peacock feather fans, pots for carrying home Ganges River water, and religious books were popular products in the makeshift shops.

Organizers say visits by celebrities often cause logistical problems at the festival, where each road, bridge, culvert and clearing is crammed with frenzied devotees, even at night.

Sonia Gandhi, head of India's leading opposition party, dipped her feet in the water on Monday. Police blocked thousands of boats and pilgrims from entering the river until she was gone.

"On peak days we are advising celebrities not to come. It is a problem," Jeevesh Nandan, the chief administrator of the festival, told The Associated Press.

Organizers said more than 70 million people will have visited by the time the festival ends Feb. 21.