This sacred stroke, called tilak ... He then uses a steel stamp to mark them with a symbol of the Hindu god they prefer — from Lord Shiva, the powerful Hindu god of destruction, to Ram, one ...

While the swastika continues to be a powerful and sacred symbol in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, its transformation into a tool of Nazi propaganda has forever altered its perception in the West.

Varanasi is also considered the holiest place on earth for Hindu cremation because the body's ashes can be sprinkled into the sacred river; ash is therefore a prevalent symbol at the Kumbh Mela.