Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
Photograph of a dense crowd at a riverside ghat during a Kumbh Mela shahi snan procession. Several sadhus in white dhotis with red shawls and rudraksha malas walk near the water, one holding a long blue pole. Colourful umbrellas in yellow, red, green and orange are raised above the crowd, and uniformed police stand among devotees. A yellow banner is held aloft, and a hoarding on the right reads in Hindi. Many people line the steps and water's edge under bright sunlight.

More like this

Open the gallery
April 22 20162016-04-22Outdoor Kumbh Mela shahi snan procession at a riverside ghat, with a crowd pressing forward. Several sadhus in brown and saffron robes walk in front, one wearing a large gold necklace and a rudraksha mala; a bald sadhu in white dhoti with red shoulder cloth and golden border walks nearby. Police officers in khaki uniforms and a man in a blue-and-white cap guide the crowd. Large orange, yellow and red ceremonial umbrellas are held above, and a yellow banner with Hindi text stands at right. Devotees line the water's edge and bathe in the shallow river behind.2016-04-22A large procession of saffron- and white-robed sadhus moves along a dusty riverside road during a Kumbh Mela shahi snan. In the foreground a bald young man in white dhoti with gold border and gold-bead garlands carries a tall silver staff. Behind him, men in maroon and orange robes with rudraksha and gold necklaces walk in step, some with bare upper bodies and gold chains. A large yellow parasol and red umbrellas are carried overhead, red flags wave, and a mural of painted deities covers a wall on the right. Spectators line the far side, and a fountain plays near the water.2016-04-22Outdoor Kumbh Mela shahi snan procession on a riverbank ghat under bright sunlight. Several colourful ceremonial umbrellas, yellow, red, green and blue with fringed edges, are raised above a crowd. Sadhus with bare upper bodies, rudraksha and gold necklaces, and saffron-toned cloth stand near the water. A man in a white shirt with an orange turban faces the group. Behind them, a large crowd lines pink-painted steps and a multi-storey ghat building, with a loudspeaker mounted on a pole. Many people wear white, orange, pink and green clothing.2016-04-22Crowded outdoor riverbank procession at a ghat during a Kumbh Mela shahi snan. Central figures include a man in a dark maroon robe with a long beaded necklace, and nearby saffron-robed sadhus. Men in white dhotis with red-and-gold sashes and bare torsos stand close, along with uniformed police in khaki and a man in a blue shirt with a red scarf. Large yellow and red ceremonial umbrellas and a yellow banner are held above the crowd. Devotees line the steps and the river beyond, with a Hindi signboard on the wall.2016-04-22April 22 20162016-04-22A crowd of men wades into shallow river water at a Kumbh Mela shahi snan, with an orange umbrella and red flags above. A central figure in saffron robes, layered rudraksha malas and a gold-coloured ceremonial pendant necklace reaches out toward others. Beside him a shaved-headed monastic in orange and a man in white dhoti with a bare upper body and bead bracelets join in. Several men in white dhotis with red sashes and rudraksha malas stand in the water, and police and volunteers in yellow shirts are visible in the crowd behind. Hands clasp in the foreground.2016-04-22April 22 20162016-04-22A large crowd stands waist-deep in water at a riverside ghat during a ritual bathing event. In the foreground, a bare-chested man with a gold necklace, bangles and a red-and-maroon cloth knots a dipping gesture, his hand raised near his face. Around him, men in white dhotis and maroon sashes and women in white and colourful saris, many with garlands and gold jewellery, stand in the water. Red and saffron flags, a blue ceremonial umbrella and a large trident are visible above the crowd, with trees, lamp posts and loudspeakers along the bank under a blue sky.2016-05-21May 21 20162016-05-21A large outdoor crowd gathers at a riverbank or waterfront during a ritual bathing event, with many people wading into shallow water. In the centre, a man in a deep maroon wrap with a heavy gold necklace stands waist-deep in the water with his hands raised to his head. Around him, men and women in white dhotis and saffron or maroon shawls, some wearing marigold and rudraksha-style garlands, stand in the water. Red flags, red and orange banners, and umbrellas fill the background, with spectators lining a wall and rooftops behind them.2016-05-21A large crowd of devotees stands waist-deep in a river during a ritual bath. Many wear white dhotis and garlands of beads, and some wear red sashes. In the centre, a shaved-headed priest in a maroon robe stands in the water beside a figure in white clothes who pours from a large silver vessel. Red flags, a blue ceremonial umbrella and a silver trident are visible, with trees and buildings along the riverbank behind.2016-05-21