Disciples pay homage to their spiritual gurus

Thousands of Hindu devotees travelled on a crowded train to the temple city of Goverdhan, 91 miles south-east of Delhi, yesterday for the Guru Purnima festival.

Guru Purnima, or Guru's full moon day, is observed in many parts of India by disciples paying respect to their gurus or teachers. The day is also of significance to many Hindu farmers, as it heralds the start of the monsoon season, rains being essential to producing a good crop.