ARDH KUMBH MELA 2007. Allahabad

Having fun again outside the Sacred Ganges.

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Having Fun. Prayag

Two Nagagababas having a lot of fun.

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The sadhu and the trishul. Prayag
13.3.07

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Faith. Prayag

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Holy Bath. Prayag. Uttar Pradesh

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Praying alone. Prayag

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Intense Nagababa

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The Nagababa and the Trishul

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Young Nagababa. Prayag

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Nagababas coming out of the Ganges. Prayag

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A Nagababa. Prayag

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Nagababas. Prayag

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Sadhus coming out of the Ganges

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Rushing out. prayag

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Waiting to Bath. Prayag

Nagababas waiting to dip in the Ganges

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Nagababa. Prayag
12.3.07

Nagababas waiting to dip in the Holy Ganges.

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Hare Mahadev. Prayag

Hare Mahadev, god is great... This is what they were saying watching the sadhus go by.

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Pilgrims. Prayag

The pilgrims are following the procession of Sadhus in Prayag

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Sadhus during the Main Procession. Prayag

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The sadhu and the trishul. Prayag

Nagababas sadhus during the main procession leading them to the sacred Ganges

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The Procession of the Sadhus

Sadhus in the cold weather of the Prayag's nigth during the Ardh Khumh Mela.

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Nagababa. Prayag

Sadhus in the cold weather of the Prayag's night during the Ardh Khumh Mela.

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Procession of the Sadhus

The procession of the Nagababas sadhus the night of the main bathing date

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Nagababa. Prayag

Nagababas on their way toward the sacred Ganges to take their Holy Bath.

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A Pilgrim.

A pilgrims after her bath. 4:40 AM

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Saris. Prayag. Uttar Pradesh

Pilgrims bath all night long in Prayag, even though it's cold.
They also have to dry up saris despite the cold night

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Pilgrims during the Main Bath. Prayag

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Pilgrims during the Main Bath. Prayag

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The crowd. Prayag

Still 4:30 AM, and a lot of pilgrims are already there.
It won't stop the entire night.

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Offerings. Prayag

After having taken their holy bath, pilgrims usually give rice, grain or food to the beggers alongside the road.

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Sadhu. Main Bathing Day. Prayag

Gopal Das, a sadhu from the Nirvani Akhara during his bat, at 1:45 AM.

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The rush toward the river. Prayag
10.3.07

Pilgrims rushing toward th Sacred Ganges to take their Holy Bath

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Holy Bath. Prayag. Ardh Kumbh Mela 2007

Pilgrims bathing during the main bath in Prayag.
Still night, 3:13 AM but thousands of pilgrims are flocking to the Ganges

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Cold nights. Prayag

Pilgrims trying to get warm waiting for the temperature to be warmer
so they can take their Holy Bath.
About 4 AM

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Sleepy pilgrims. Prayag

Pilgrims trying to get warm waiting for the temperature to be warmer
so they can take their Holy Bath. 4 AM

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Saris. Prayag. Uttar Pradesh

Pilgrims drying up saris afgter their Holy bath while other pilgrims
are still sleeping in the cold night of Prayag

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Mangal Giri. A sadhu

Applying a shiva sign on his forehead after his bath

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Afraid of getting lost during the Big Bath pilgrims hang to each other.

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Papaya. Prayag

People afraid of getting lost use the Papaya branch as a flag during their Holy bath
alongside the Ganges.

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Holy Bath. Prayag. Ardh Kumbh Mela 2007

Gopal Das and Bawa Guru coming out of the Holy Ganges after their bath during the Ardh Khumbh Mela.
1/45 AM, still very cold outside

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Sacred Bath. Prayag

Bawa Guru on the left and Gopla Das ready to jump into the cold Ganges.

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1:44 AM

Gopal Das, Bawa Guru and Chattu en route to the sacred Ganges for their Holy Bath.

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Smoking Sadhus.

Sadhus from the Juna Akhara smoking Ganja inside their campments.

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A sadhu drinking Chai.

A nagababa drinking tea in his Akhara

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Smoking Sadhu

Inside the Juna Akhara, a Sadhu smoking ganja, a ritual often done during the day.

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Selling religious stuff

A Boy selling religious paraphernelia on a street of the Ardh Khumbh Mela

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Nagababa. Prayag

A nagababa doing some exercise in front of his akhara and next to the latrines.

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Pilgrims. Prayag

Pilgrims are still getting to Prayag from all over Northern India for the big bath

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Beggars. Prayag

A lot of Beggars are coming for the Kumbh Mela since a lot of Pilgrims are there..

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Sadhus can have ice-cream too!

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Bookstore. Prayag

A man showing me a re-written version of the Ramayana he is selling
on the pavement in a street of the Ardh Khumbh Mela.

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A tired sadhu. Prayag

People are arriving to the Ardh kumbh mela every day for the big bath.
A sadhu very tired sleeps on the side of the Mela's street.

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Shops. Prayag

Every day, more shops are coming out. This one selling religious souvenirs was set up just next to the Latrine.

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Daily life in the Nirvani Akhara

Daily life inside the Nirvani Akhara, people eating in front of their tents

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Sangam
16.2.07

At the meeting point of the sacred Yamuna river and the Holy Ganges, Sangam,
the place most sacred to dip into the Sacred rivers. Pilgrims have to take boats
to reach the place in the middle of the river.
As you can see, very little water this year.

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saris again. Prayag

A woman drying up her sari after the Holy dip...

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Wood. Prayag

Pilgrims need wood to cook and to make fire at night to get warm.
You can buy it there.

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Shopping. Prayag

During the Ardh Khumbh Mela, pilgrims ahve to buy supply for themselves.
Her they buy the straw to isolate the couch in the tents. They also buy small
cooking clay oven to cook on.

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Health. Prayag

During the Ardh Khumbh Mela you'll find pletny of doctores giving free consultation and
medecine in the streets of the Mela.

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Sangam

On our way to reach Sangam, the meeting point of the Sacred Yamuna river
and the Holy Ganges.
The level of water was really low this year.

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Getting out. Prayag

An old man being escorted by his son after having taken his holy bath in the Sacred Ganges.

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Pilgrims. Prayag

Pilgrims in their way on boats to reach Sangam, the meeting point of the Sacred Yamuna river
and the Holy Ganges.
The level of water was really low this year.

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Nagababas. Prayag
15.2.07

Nagababas begging food inside the streets of the Juna Akhara

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Nagababas. Prayag

Nagababas begging food in the streets of the Juna Akhara in Prayag.

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A blue eyed Nagababa

Inside the Juna Akhara

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Nagababas. Prayag

Sitting and welcoming me inside the Juna Akhara

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Nagababa. Prayag

A Nagababa sitting in the Juna Akhara during the mela.

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Brahmins. Prayag

THEY WERE FOLLOWED BY WOMEN, I SUPPOSE IT WAS THEIR WIVES !!

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Brahmins. Prayag

En route toward the Ganges for their holy bath

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Brahmins. Prayag

A group of Brahmins en route toward the Sacred Ganges.

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Sadhu. Prayag

A Sadhu in the campment he organised around a tree. He was singing.

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Barbers. Prayag

During the Ardh Khumbh Mela, since it's a ritual to shave in the Hindu religion as a purification,
you'll see lines and lines of pilgrims getting shaved..

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Gopal Das
14.2.07

Everyday there is a Bandhara taking places. People can give money to make a Bandhara possible. The Sadhus will buy the necessary food and cook it for the poor or the other Sadhus. Then one has to pass next to each one of them to give 2 roupies.
In this image, Gopal Das, the Sadhu receiving me in his tent is pouring "kir", not sure about how to write it. A sweet milky semolina...very good

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Bandhara. Nirvani Akhara

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Sadhus. Prayag

Sadhus busy sewing clothing not far from the Ganges.

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Akhara

A street and the Akhara in front of the Nirvani Akhara.

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Chapatis. Prayag

Women staying in the Akhara preparing the Chapatis for the meals.

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Afternoon.

Every afternoon, a sadhu is preaching to the pilgrims staying at the Nirvani Akhara, most of them women.

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Night Puja. Prayag

A night Puja at the Nirvani Akhara in Prayag

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Morning task

A older sadhu staying in the Mahant tent, next to mine, putting his Tika on.

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Cooking. Prayag
13.2.07

Chattu sitting and Bawa Guru cooking the evening meal for the pilgrims.

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Donation. Prayag

People coming to give grain, rice for the poorest at the Ardh Khumbh Mela.
Every day people come to give food that the Sadhu will then cook for the pilgrims

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Evening Puja. Prayag

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Holy Bath. Prayag. Ardh Khumbh Mela 2007

A sadhu coming out of the Sacred Ganges, evening light.

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cold weather. Prayag

A boatman trying to stay warm on his boat.

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Nagababas. Prayag

Nagababas on their way to the Sacred Ganges.

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Afraid of getting lost. Prayag

During the Ardh Khumbh Mela, a lot of pilgrims are afraid of getting lost in the crowd.
So a lot do this. They hang up to the people in front of them.
Sometime you can watch little trains from the same family.

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Sitaram. prayag

Back to the Nirvani Akhara. A few afternoon, singers and dancers from Janakpur, Nepal, where Sita was born
came to sing the story of Sita and Ram in the Akhara. All of them are boys. Here a Pilgrims of the Nirvani Akhara
paying respect to Ram and Sita.
It was almost impossible to sleep at night since most of the Akharas around were singing Sitaram all night long.

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Sita and Ram. Prayag

Back to the Nirvani Akhara. A few afternoon, singers and dancers from Janakpur, Nepal, where Sita was born
came to sing the story of Sita and Ram in the Akhara. All of them are boys. Other images will follow.

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Sita and Ram. Prayag

Back to the Nirvani Akhara. A few afternoon, singers and dancers from Janakpur, Nepal, where Sita was born came to sing the story of Sita and Ram in the Akhara. All of them are boys. Other images will follow.

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Pilgrim. Prayag
12.2.07

Every day more and more pilgrims are arriving in Prayag for the big Bath schedules on January 19th

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Pilgrims. Prayag

Pilgrims watching the procession of Sadhus and Akharas.

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Sadhu. Prayag

A Sadhu, follower of Vishnu, in the Crowd.
A gentle man.

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Ceremonial. Prayag

In a Sikh Akhara some men are dancing around with swords, like a contest between them.

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Ceremonial. Prayag

In a Sikh Akhara some men are dancing around with swords, like a contest between them.

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Procession. Prayag

Trying to get on a truck to have a better view !!

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Mahant. Prayag

A mahant sitting on top of a truck during the procession.

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The Procession. Prayag

The procession of the Akharas toward the sacred Ganges.
"Mahant" are sitting under umbrellas on top of cars or trucks.

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Woman Sadhu. Prayag

A woman sadhu on top of a car during the Akhara's Procession.

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Nagababas. Prayag

Sadhus from the Juna Akhara coming back to their campment after having taken their Holy Bath.

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Nagababas. Prayag

A Nagababa walking in the tent village of the Juna Akhara in Prayag

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Pilgrim. Prayag
11.2.07

A pilgrim in Prayag after his bath.

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Chai. Juna Akhara. Prayag

A sadhu from the Juna Akhara making himself a Chai.

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Procession. Prayag

The Procession of the differren t Akharas during the mela . It last for hours and hours

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Musician. Prayag

The procession last for hours. Between Akharas, sometimes bands are playing..

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Nagababas. Prayag

Nagababas waiting behind lines before being allowed to rush in the water of the sacred Ganges.

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Security. Prayag

The organisation is amazing in Prayag. Everything is really well done to avoid incidents.

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Fire. Prayag

The fire where the little girl was trying to get warm in the previous image

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Cold Weather. Prayag

A little girl trying to get warm before heading toward the Hsacred ganges for her Holy Bath

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A Mahant. Prayag

A "Mahant" leading an Akhara during the night procession of January 15th.

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Not a Sadhu yet....
10.2.07

The same day, a bit later when the sun came.. I did it too !

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Sadhus. Juna Akhara. Prayag

Gently posing for me...

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Sadhus. Juna Akhara. Prayag

Trying to get warm...

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First Bath. Prayag

Early morning, night time the first Sadhus of the Juna Akhara jump in the Ganges.

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The Mahant of the Juna Akhara. Prayag

The "Mahant" of the Juna Akhara leading the sadhus toward the Banks of the Sacred Ganges for the bath on January 15th.

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Procession. Prayag

Some Nagas baba heading toward the Ganges before the bath on the 15th of january in Prayag during the Ardh Khumbh Mela.
Those are part of the Juna Akhara. One of the most prominent Sadhu sects, the Juna Akhara, consists of the warrior-ascetics
or Nagas (the naked). They smear their bodies with holy ash and sport long matted hair, symbolic of their devotion
to Lord Shiva, generally known as the God of destruction, but to Sadhus better known as the Lord of Yoga.
The Nagas importance is emphasised at the Mela as they lead the millions of pilgrims in a procession to
the sandy banks of the Ganges on the main bathing day.

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Procession. Prayag

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Soni. Prayag
9.2.07

Soni, the daughter of a woman selling souvenir near the Nirvani Akhara.
She was always at the Akhara, being entertained by Gopal Dal, other sadus... or me

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Warm.... Prayag

Chattu on the right and next to him Bawa Guru , the sadhus I shared the tent with during my stay at the Nirvani Akhara.
Here with other sadhus from the Akhara.
Just trying to get warm near a fire inside the camp.

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Shop. Prayag

A shop open at night near the Nirvani Akhara in Prayag.

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Night Mood. Prayag

Pilgrims walking by the streets of the Khumbh Mella at night. it's pretty cold there in January.
Still vendors are working late.

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Cooking. Prayag

The daily life inside the Akhara. Women cooking in front of their tent.

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Reading. Nirvani Akhara. Prayag

A pilgrim reading a sacred text in front of his tent in the Nirvani Akhara.
You can spot the clay oven on the left.

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Prayer. Prayag

A pilgrim praying some gods . Inside a tent different scenes of the Ramayana, funeral , life in rural India.

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Gopal Das. Prayag

Gopal Das having a foot massage done by a woman having a small shop in front of the Akhara. Soni, the little girl was always with us. A very cute girl.

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Colorful Cooking . Prayag

Pilgrims cooking in a street of Prayag.

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Bath. Prayag
8.2.07

Holy dip in Prayag.

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Prayer. Prayag

Another custom where the priest is doing the Puja. One hold the tail of a baby cow while praying.

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Holy Cow. Prayag

A woman feeding a holy cow in Prayag. Next to every place where a priest does the puja, there is a cow.

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Getting out. Prayag

A mother helping out her son out of the Ganges.

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Holy Bath. Prayag

A sadhu with an imposing headscarf taking his Holy bath in the middle of pilgrims.

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Happy Kid. Prayag

A happy kid after his holy bat in the Sacred ganges. The Mela is very well organize, as you can see the authorities put poles to prevent the pilgrims to go too far in the water. Many pilgrims don't know how to swim and it could become very dangerous to have thousands of pilgrims free to go everywhere in the river.