Why did people bathe before entering some lud sacred groves?

In the context of Finno-Ugric religion, the lud was a sacred grove where sacrifices were performed to honor deities. These enclosures were considered so profoundly sacred that any unseemly behavior was strictly prohibited within their vicinity.1

Individuals with legitimate business at the lud were required to bathe before entering as a necessary act of purification. This practice aligns with the broader religious principle that purification is invariably required before any contact with the sacred. By performing this ablution, participants sought to remove ritual uncleanness, ensuring they were in a proper state to approach the divine and maintain a right relationship with the special powers associated with the grove.123