The teeth chatter, and bodies shiver; the senses freeze and palms are squeezed as people build up their resolve to plunge into the ice cold waters. If you ask me, I would suggest Gallantry awards for all the brave souls. With the temperature falling below minus 10 degrees, people would usually force their kids to stay indoors; but not on the 19th of January in Russia where people encourage each other including the little ones, to jump into cross-shaped water holes, rather ice holes. Sounds scary, doesn’t it?
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Picture:
Reuters
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Called as Epiphany or Orthodox Epiphany, 19th January is celebrated as the day when Jesus Christ was baptized in the Jordan River. Every year, the priests bless the river, and people plunge into the ice cold waters at midnight to wash away their sins. The water would be truly blessed then, as people actually do manage to come out alive, more so, smiling and content after dipping into the water not once, not twice, but thrice!
But guess what? There are also people who bathe into the freezing waters throughout winter, and rightly earn the name of ‘morzhi’ or walruses. It is said to increase their resistance; and why wouldn’t it? I personally can’t think of anything that could be more challenging to the body. While the mere thought of diving once, sends shivers down my spine, I am appalled at how one can do it often. I bow to thee!
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