Hindu devotees honor goddesses in India and Britain, in photos

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Hindu devotees honor goddesses in India and Britain, in photos

2026-08-10 02:13 Last Updated At：02:21

In India and Britain, Hindu worshippers are taking part in rituals honoring the divine feminine. The observances come during Aadi, a holy month in the Tamil calendar associated with prayers, offerings and devotion to Hindu goddesses.

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A Hindu devotee with his back pierced with hooks perform rituals during 'Aadi' festival, a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses, in Chennai, India, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

Hindu devotees with hooks pierced through the skin on their backs take part in the Aadi festival, a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses, in Chennai, India, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

Worshippers perform an act of sacrifice as they take part in the Hindu Chariot Festival, a celebration to worship the Hindu god Amman, in London, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

A worshipper takes part in the Hindu Chariot Festival, a celebration to worship the Hindu god Amman, in London, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Hindu devotees with their back pierced with hooks spin during 'Aadi' festival, a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses, in Chennai, India, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

Women take part in the Hindu Chariot Festival, a celebration to worship the Hindu god Amman, in London, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Worshippers perform an act of sacrifice as they take part in the Hindu Chariot Festival, a celebration to worship the Hindu god Amman, in London, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

A Hindu devotee with hooks pierced through the skin on his body hangs miniature water pots as offerings during the 'Aadi' festival, a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses. in Chennai, India, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

Women take part in the Hindu Chariot Festival, a celebration to worship the Hindu god Amman, in London, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Hindu devotees carry milk pots during a procession to perform rituals for the 'Aadi' festival, a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses, in Chennai, India, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

Hindu devotees with their back pierced with hooks pull the chariot of goddess during 'Aadi' festival, a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses, in Chennai, India, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

A Hindu devotee reacts in pain after having his cheeks pierced with a steel rod as part of a ritual during the 'Aadi' festival, a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses, in Chennai, India, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

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A Hindu devotee with his back pierced with hooks perform rituals during 'Aadi' festival, a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses, in Chennai, India, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

Hindu devotees with hooks pierced through the skin on their backs take part in the Aadi festival, a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses, in Chennai, India, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

Worshippers perform an act of sacrifice as they take part in the Hindu Chariot Festival, a celebration to worship the Hindu god Amman, in London, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

A worshipper takes part in the Hindu Chariot Festival, a celebration to worship the Hindu god Amman, in London, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Hindu devotees with their back pierced with hooks spin during 'Aadi' festival, a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses, in Chennai, India, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

Women take part in the Hindu Chariot Festival, a celebration to worship the Hindu god Amman, in London, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Worshippers perform an act of sacrifice as they take part in the Hindu Chariot Festival, a celebration to worship the Hindu god Amman, in London, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

A Hindu devotee with hooks pierced through the skin on his body hangs miniature water pots as offerings during the 'Aadi' festival, a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses. in Chennai, India, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

Women take part in the Hindu Chariot Festival, a celebration to worship the Hindu god Amman, in London, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Hindu devotees carry milk pots during a procession to perform rituals for the 'Aadi' festival, a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses, in Chennai, India, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

Hindu devotees with their back pierced with hooks pull the chariot of goddess during 'Aadi' festival, a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses, in Chennai, India, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

A Hindu devotee reacts in pain after having his cheeks pierced with a steel rod as part of a ritual during the 'Aadi' festival, a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses, in Chennai, India, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

Cyclone damages homes and farmland in eastern India and kills at least 3 people

KAKINADA, India (AP) — A cyclone battered India ’s eastern Andhra Pradesh state Wednesday, killing at least three people and damaging homes and farmland after authorities evacuated tens of thousands of people.

The winds and heavy rains from Cyclone Arnab caused widespread damage to houses, roads and electricity infrastructure, with 14 coastal districts badly affected, said the state’s chief minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu. He requested urgent assistance from the central government.

Arnab made landfall early Wednesday as a very severe cyclonic storm with wind speeds reaching 135 kph (84 mph) before weakening as it moved inland, authorities said.

Two women were electrocuted in separate incidents in the port city of Visakhapatnam, while another person was killed when a tree fell in East Godavari district, officials said.

The cyclone damaged 79,000 acres of crops and dozens of homes. In the fertile Konaseema district, banana and coconut plantations had extensive damage and trees and power poles were uprooted, disrupting electricity across the district, officials said.

The India Meteorological Department said heavy rainfall as well as strong winds would linger in coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh and parts of southern Odisha state as the storm dissipated. The rainfall flooded several low-lying areas in Visakhapatnam.

At least 180,000 people were evacuated from low-lying and flood-prone areas in Andhra Pradesh before the cyclone. Authorities also canceled some train services, fishing boats were secured and medical teams were deployed to affected areas.

The state’s disaster management authority said more than 12 million people live along the cyclone’s expected path.

In neighboring Odisha state, officials planned to evacuate about 48,000 people from areas likely to be affected by the storm.

In Nepal to the north, the disaster agency warned of heavy rain, lightning and thunderstorms across much of the country. It advised tourists to avoid high-altitude and Himalayan areas and warned of possible road and air travel disruptions.

Farooq reported from Hyderabad, India. AP journalist Binaj Gurubacharya in Kathmandu, Nepal, contributed to this report.

Hindu devotees honor goddesses in India and Britain, in photos

News

Hindu devotees honor goddesses in India and Britain, in photos

A Hindu devotee with his back pierced with hooks perform rituals during 'Aadi' festival, a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses, in Chennai, India, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

Hindu devotees with hooks pierced through the skin on their backs take part in the Aadi festival, a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses, in Chennai, India, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

Worshippers perform an act of sacrifice as they take part in the Hindu Chariot Festival, a celebration to worship the Hindu god Amman, in London, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

A worshipper takes part in the Hindu Chariot Festival, a celebration to worship the Hindu god Amman, in London, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Hindu devotees with their back pierced with hooks spin during 'Aadi' festival, a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses, in Chennai, India, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

Women take part in the Hindu Chariot Festival, a celebration to worship the Hindu god Amman, in London, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Worshippers perform an act of sacrifice as they take part in the Hindu Chariot Festival, a celebration to worship the Hindu god Amman, in London, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

A Hindu devotee with hooks pierced through the skin on his body hangs miniature water pots as offerings during the 'Aadi' festival, a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses. in Chennai, India, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

Women take part in the Hindu Chariot Festival, a celebration to worship the Hindu god Amman, in London, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Hindu devotees carry milk pots during a procession to perform rituals for the 'Aadi' festival, a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses, in Chennai, India, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

Hindu devotees with their back pierced with hooks pull the chariot of goddess during 'Aadi' festival, a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses, in Chennai, India, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

A Hindu devotee reacts in pain after having his cheeks pierced with a steel rod as part of a ritual during the 'Aadi' festival, a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses, in Chennai, India, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

A Hindu devotee with his back pierced with hooks perform rituals during 'Aadi' festival, a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses, in Chennai, India, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

Hindu devotees with hooks pierced through the skin on their backs take part in the Aadi festival, a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses, in Chennai, India, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

Worshippers perform an act of sacrifice as they take part in the Hindu Chariot Festival, a celebration to worship the Hindu god Amman, in London, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

A worshipper takes part in the Hindu Chariot Festival, a celebration to worship the Hindu god Amman, in London, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Hindu devotees with their back pierced with hooks spin during 'Aadi' festival, a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses, in Chennai, India, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

Women take part in the Hindu Chariot Festival, a celebration to worship the Hindu god Amman, in London, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Worshippers perform an act of sacrifice as they take part in the Hindu Chariot Festival, a celebration to worship the Hindu god Amman, in London, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

A Hindu devotee with hooks pierced through the skin on his body hangs miniature water pots as offerings during the 'Aadi' festival, a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses. in Chennai, India, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

Women take part in the Hindu Chariot Festival, a celebration to worship the Hindu god Amman, in London, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Hindu devotees carry milk pots during a procession to perform rituals for the 'Aadi' festival, a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses, in Chennai, India, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

Hindu devotees with their back pierced with hooks pull the chariot of goddess during 'Aadi' festival, a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses, in Chennai, India, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

A Hindu devotee reacts in pain after having his cheeks pierced with a steel rod as part of a ritual during the 'Aadi' festival, a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses, in Chennai, India, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

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