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RELIGION

Haitians trek to sacred waterfalls in annual festival

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    A voodoo pilgrim bathes as he prays in a waterfall believed to have purifying powers during the annual celebration in Saut d' Eau, Haiti, Saturday, July 16, 2016. After bathing, voodoo pilgrims throw away the dresses they wore to the site, and don new clothes for good luck. ( AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) (The Associated Press)

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    Image 2 of 3

    Voodoo pilgrims bathe in a waterfall believed to have purifying powers during the annual celebration in Saut d' Eau, Haiti, Saturday, July 16, 2016. After bathing, voodoo pilgrims throw away the dresses they wore to the site, and don new clothes for good luck. ( AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) (The Associated Press)

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    Voodoo pilgrims heat aromatic leaves before bathing in a waterfall believed to have purifying powers during the annual celebration in Saut d' Eau, Haiti, Saturday, July 16, 2016. Tens of thousands of Haitians makethe pilgrimage to bathe in the sacred waterfalls. A mix of Voodoo and Christian faithful along with a cohort of young, hard-partying revelers gathered Saturday in the rushing waters of Saut d'Eau, where they scrubbed their bodies with aromatic leaves and soap. ( AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) (The Associated Press)

SAUT D'EAU, Haiti – Some carrying candles or calabash bowls with offerings, tens of thousands of Haitians have made a pilgrimage to bathe in sacred waterfalls.

A mix of Voodoo and Christian faithful along with a cohort of young, hard-partying revelers gathered Saturday in the rushing waters of Saut d'Eau, where they scrubbed their bodies with aromatic leaves and soap.

They're praying for everything from winning lottery numbers to a good harvest and an end to Haiti's chronic political dysfunction. It was final day of this year's annual three-day festival.

Haitian-American Andrea Bellevue made the trek from Boston. The social worker says she came to the falls seeking help by praying to Erzulie, a spirit god of love.

In the nearby town, pilgrims converged on the local church to pray to the Virgin Mary.