'Hugging Saint' Embraces NYC

Over the past 2 days one woman has hugged more than 8,000 Manhattanites, reports the New York Times. Her name is Mata Amritanandamayi, but her followers call her Amma, or the “Hugging Saint.” She has been hugging anyone and everyone since she was a teenager in India, and now her unconditional love has come to New York, for a 3-day hugathon ending today.

Some people waited as long as 7 hours for their hug yesterday, standing in huge lines that spilled out onto the street. But for the devoted, who believe Amma’s hug has healing powers, it was worth it. “The feeling is like sunshine or moonlight shining on me,” said one 45-year-old devotee. (More religion stories.)