Stunning Photos of Sacred Water Around the World | Nat Geo Live

We went to Mexico to look at the sacred Cenotes in the Yucatan. They used to be spiritual places for the Mayans. Today we come and we seek peace and relaxation and meditation. This is a Russian Orthodox community on Epiphany day.

Now, you're probably gonna say this is Russia, Ukraine, right? No, it's Maine! (audience laughter) We went to India for the Ganga Dussehra ceremony. One-point-three million people making offerings in the sacred Ganges. (sound of the river flowing) It's a staggering event. Again, where they light candles, say prayers, beautiful. If you ever get the chance to go to Haridwar, do go. And then wait just for dusk, and it becomes the most beautiful, poetic scene of humanity in deep spiritual prayer with the candles moving down the river.

We went to look at the commercialization of the spirituality of the Ganges, to Mumbai, to Bombay where a giant water park with the symbol of the Ganga is there and you can slide down the Ganga. We went to Turkey to look at sacred water in Islam. Ablutions before going into the mosque to pray. The Greek Orthodox Church in Istanbul. We know about baptisms, but let's do it in a little more poetic way. We don't have to see all the nudity.

Went to Bali, to look at the spirituality in Hinduism where they pray where the water is considered extremely sacred. Japan, at a meditation center, where people pray under dripping and meditate under dripping droplets of water. The taoist outside of Kyoto line up under candlelight and pray for blessings under cascading cold waterfalls. And if you're gonna work in an onsen, in Japan and everybody is naked, you kinda feel kinda funny. You're wearing your clothes and everybody else is naked.

So, it's probably the only assignment I've ever done where I worked naked for three days. (audience laughter) I just worked naked. South of France in a cave that is believed that the Virgin Mary appeared. Every day thousands come to touch the water seeping from the wall. So desperate are some in pain, they come in their hospital beds praying for relief, to touch that sacred water.