The incident occurred between Tuesday and Thursday across 15 districts in Bihar state, where Hindu devotees were bathing in rivers and ponds as part of the festival celebrations. The victims lost their lives while performing ritual baths in rivers and ponds swollen due to recent flooding, according to a disaster management official.
The festival, known as Jivitputrika, is a Hindu celebration during which mothers pray for the well-being of their children. It is observed over several days in Bihar as well as in neighboring Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and southern Nepal.
During the same festival last year in Bihar, 22 people drowned within a 24-hour period.
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