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A photograph of a shahi snaan bathing scene in shallow river water, with a large crowd lining the banks and filling the background. In the centre, a man with long swept-back dark hair wears a maroon sleeveless top, heavy gold necklaces, gold bangles and armlets, and stretches his arms outward while standing waist-deep. To the right, a man in white dhoti and a red shawl with a gold chain stands in the water, and several devotees in white and saffron clothing and rudraksha-style garlands gather around. A trident-topped staff with a silver finial is visible at the right edge, and red flags and saffron banners appear above the crowd.

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May 21 20162016-05-21May 21 20162016-05-21May 21 20162016-05-21May 21 20162016-05-21A large crowd gathers in shallow water at a riverbank during a ritual bathing event. In the centre, a man with long dark hair wears a deep maroon-red cloth, multiple gold necklaces and gold armbands, and holds a tall metal staff upright in the water. Around him, people in white dhotis and maroon-red shawls stand waist-deep in the water, some wearing rudraksha malas and gold chains. Behind them, a dense crowd of onlookers, many holding up cameras and phones, fills the bank beneath flags in red and orange, umbrellas and a tall orange-and-white structure. Blue and red banners are visible in the background.2016-05-21A large crowd gathers at a riverbank as devotees bathe in shallow water during a ritual immersion. In the centre, a man with long dark hair wears a maroon-brown dhoti-like wrap, heavy gold necklaces and gold armbands, and raises his hand over the water. Around him, people in white dhotis and red, orange and saffron garments, many wearing rudraksha malas and gold chains, wade in the river. Several men hold red and orange flags, and many photographers with cameras press in along the bank. The water is murky green-brown, with flower petals scattered near the foreground.2016-05-21A photograph of a river ritual with many people standing waist-deep in water. In the centre, a man with long dark hair and gold necklaces and bangles, wearing a maroon-brown garment, stands in the water with hands raised and eyes closed. Around him, devotees in white dhotis with rudraksha malas and gold necklaces stand in the water, and a bare-chested man in white stands behind. A woman in orange and a woman in white hold a silver staff. Crowds with cameras and red and saffron flags line the bank above.2016-05-21May 21 20162016-05-21Large crowd gathered in shallow river water at a riverbank festival, with a central man standing waist-deep wearing a maroon-red dhoti-wrap, heavy gold-coloured necklaces and bangles, and his arms raised, while surrounding men and women in white and cream garments with maroon shawls, some holding a tall silver staff, wade and stand close around him. Many spectators on the banks and in the water photograph the scene with phones, and saffron and red flags, tents and banners stand along the background. Scene reads as a ritual immersion or bathing rite.2016-05-21Large crowd bathing in a river at a Kumbh Mela shahi snaan. In the foreground a bare-chested man in a maroon dhoti with heavy gold necklaces and gold armlets stands waist-deep in water, smiling. Behind him devotees in white and maroon dhotis with rudraksha malas hold their hands in anjali, and a figure holds a silver trident. Many onlookers on the bank hold up cameras and phones. Red flags and saffron-clad participants are visible in the background.2016-05-21May 21 20162016-05-21May 21 20162016-05-21