Alone .....

A pilgrim during his bath

Having fun again.

Having fun again outside the Sacred Ganges.

Having Fun. Prayag

Two Nagagababas having a lot of fun.

The sadhu and the trishul. Prayag

Faith. Prayag

Holy Bath. Prayag. Uttar Pradesh

Praying alone. Prayag

Intense Nagababa

The Nagababa and the Trishul

Young Nagababa. Prayag

Nagababas coming out of the Ganges. Prayag

A Nagababa. Prayag

Nagababas. Prayag

Sadhus coming out of the Ganges

Rushing out. prayag

Waiting to Bath. Prayag

Nagababas waiting to dip in the Ganges

Nagababa. Prayag

Nagababas waiting to dip in the Holy Ganges.

Hare Mahadev. Prayag

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

Pilgrims. Prayag

The pilgrims are following the procession of Sadhus in Prayag

Sadhus during the Main Procession. Prayag

The sadhu and the trishul. Prayag

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

The Procession of the Sadhus

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

Nagababa. Prayag

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

Procession of the Sadhus

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

Nagababa. Prayag

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

A Pilgrim.

A pilgrims after her bath. 4:40 AM

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

Pilgrims during the Main Bath. Prayag

Pilgrims during the Main Bath. Prayag

The crowd. Prayag

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

Offerings. Prayag

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

Sadhu. Main Bathing Day. Prayag

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

The rush toward the river. Prayag

Pilgrims rushing toward th Sacred Ganges to take their Holy Bath

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

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

Sleepy pilgrims. Prayag

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

Saris. Prayag. Uttar Pradesh

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

Mangal Giri. A sadhu

Applying a shiva sign on his forehead after his bath

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

Papaya. Prayag

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

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

Sacred Bath. Prayag

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

1:44 AM

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

Smoking Sadhus.

Sadhus from the Juna Akhara smoking Ganja inside their campments.

A sadhu drinking Chai.

A nagababa drinking tea in his Akhara

Smoking Sadhu

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

Selling religious stuff

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

Nagababa. Prayag

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

Pilgrims. Prayag

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