Amrita

The Indonesian island of Bali retains a powerful connection with its Hindu past, despite relative isolation. Ritual purification by washing in holy spring water is an important feature of religious practice. Here, local men at Pura Tirta Empul wash themselves in the temple pond. The complex, dedicated to Vishnu, was founded in 962 AD and remains popular with the Balinese to this day. Legend has it that Beelzebub had poisoned the water but it was cleansed by Indra and filled with amrita (or immortality).