India's Holy Cities Prepare For Election Season

HARIDWAR, INDIA - MARCH 15: Indian Hindu priests and devotees offer prayers near the Har Ki Pauri ghat on the River Ganges on March 15, 2024 in Haridwar, India. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) places significant political importance on north Indian pilgrimage towns like Varanasi, Rishikesh and Haridwar due to their cultural and religious significance in the Hindu religion. These towns serve as symbolic hubs of Hindu identity and pilgrimage, enabling the BJP to tap into religious fervor and historical narratives to strengthen its political base and influence. The states are expected to favour the BJP during the upcoming general elections in India - the world's largest voting exercise - which will take place in stages over a span of about six weeks starting in April. (Photo by Rebecca Conway/Getty Images)