On May 10, 2011, her birthday, they met in Haridwar, a Hindu pilgrimage center on the Ganga river, about an hour's drive from where she studied.

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As one of the gods fled with a pitcher of the nectar across the skies, it spilled on four Indian towns: Allahabad, Nasik, Ujjain and Haridwar.

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At one such festival last year in Haridwar, the state authorities used newspaper advertisements to implore the faithful not to use detergent or soap when bathing.

ECONOMIST: Pilgrimages

All Hindus believe that a dip in holy waters washes away sin and many from across the country travel to pilgrim towns like Haridwar and Pushkar to take the holy dip.

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Many believe that when gods and demons fought over a pitcher of nectar, a few drops fell in the cities of Allahabad, Nasik, Ujjain and Haridwar - the four places where the Kumbh festival has been held for centuries.

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This centre - dedicated to Lord Shiva - is especially popular with the tribal population in this lush district close to the Aravali mountain range and the picturesque Malwa Plateau - it has been described as "the Haridwar for tribals".

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