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A photograph of an ascetic performing a headstand, a yoga posture, on a rust-red patterned mat on dusty ground at the Kumbh Mela. His body is grey-ash coated and bare, with a rope tied around his upper thigh and hip, and his head rests on the mat with one hand touching the ground. Scattered dark charred cow-dung cakes and wisps of smoke lie around him. In the background, a crowd of standing people in white dhotis and saffron cloth, and a bamboo pole, are visible.

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A photograph of a nearly nude sadhu performing an inverted yoga posture, headstand with legs raised straight up, on a leopard-print mat on a dusty ground littered with dark charred cow-dung cakes and embers. A golden rope is wound around his waist and hips, and his hands grip the mat beside his head. Behind him, a crowd of pilgrims in white dhotis and saffron and orange clothing stands watching, with a wooden pole and a folded cloth at the left edge. A thin smoke rises from the ground. No identifiable a person appearance is visible.A photograph of a naked ascetic performing a yoga posture, head down on a leopard-print cloth and one leg raised high in the air. A thin yellow rope is tied around his waist and hips, and the body is covered in grey ash. Around him are scattered smouldering dung cakes and small flames on the bare ground, with a metal cup and tongs nearby. No other people are visible.A photograph of a bare-bodied yogi performing a headstand (sirsasana) on a leopard-print mat outdoors at a Kumbh Mela camp. His legs point straight up, held near the knees and waist by a rope tied around his body, while a white cloth is wrapped at his groin. Behind him a yellow tarpaulin tent is strung with bamboo poles and rope. Smouldering dhuni fire pits ringed with dark ash surround him, with a small brass cup, a metal tool and a folded white cloth bundle on the ground. The scene shows sadhu austerity practice. No face is visible and no a person candidate is identifiable from appearance.A photograph at a crowded outdoor Kumbh Mela camp, showing a nearly nude ascetic performing a headstand on a patterned brown and red mat on bare ground scattered with dark charred embers and ash. His legs rise straight up, with a rope cinched around his waist. Behind him, a dense crowd of onlookers in white dhotis, saffron and yellow shawls, a green salwar kameez and a rust-coloured head wrap stands near a pink and yellow canopy and yellow banners. The scene has a hazy, smoky atmosphere.A photograph of a naked sadhu performing a headstand on a leopard-print mat beside a smoking ring of blackened embers on bare ground. His legs are raised straight up, crossed at the ankles, and a cloth is tied around his waist with a rope. Behind him stands a yellow tarpaulin tent on bamboo poles, with a white cloth hanging from a crossbar. Nearby lie a green bag, a white cloth, a small steel cup and a metal tong. A taut rope runs horizontally across the scene.A photograph of an ash-smeared sadhu performing a headstand-style yoga posture on a patterned brown and orange rug at a Kumbh Mela camp. His legs are crossed and raised above him, with his feet interlocked, and he is tied at the waist with a rope that is strung between two lines. Smoke rises from small fires and a ring of burnt ash on the ground around him. Behind him stands a yellow tent with a red emblem, and nearby are a green canvas bag, a folded white cloth, a steel cup and tongs. No a person candidate is visible.A photograph of a nude ascetic performing an inverted yoga posture on a reddish-brown patterned mat on sandy ground scattered with dark charred clumps. The figure's body is folded upside down with head down and one leg raised high, a thin tan rope tied around the waist and hips. A small white cloth lies nearby, and wisps of smoke drift across the frame. A small purple emblem with a white bird appears at the upper left.A photograph of a nude ascetic performing an inverted yoga posture, standing on his head on a leopard-print cloth with his legs raised vertically. Ropes bind his waist and arms, one rope secured to a bamboo frame. Around him lie circular dark ash rings on the ground, smoking embers, a small metal cup, a folded white cloth and a bag. Behind is a yellow tarpaulin tent on bamboo poles at an open camp site.A photograph of a naked ascetic performing a deep forward-bending yoga posture, head bowed to the ground on a brown-and-orange patterned mat on sandy earth. The figure's body is ash-smeared and sun-darkened, with a thin knotted rope or cord wrapped around the waist and a white cloth near the hips. Smoldering cow-dung cakes lie on the ground around the mat, with smoke drifting across the frame.A photograph of a naked ascetic performing a deep forward-bending yoga posture on a woven orange-and-brown mat on bare ground at the Kumbh Mela. His forehead rests on the mat, his buttocks raised, and a thin yellow cord with knots is wrapped around his waist. Scattered blackened cow-dung cakes and smouldering ash lie on the ground around him, with a small metal cup and a pair of sticks at the lower right. Bamboo poles and a cloth tent edge appear at the left. No a person candidate is visible.A photograph of an ascetic performing a headstand yoga posture on a leopard-print mat in a smoky outdoor camp. His legs are crossed and locked above his head, with a white cloth tied around his lower body and a rope wrapped around his waist, and two taut ropes stretch horizontally behind him. Around him lie blackened fire-pit ashes, a metal cup, a metal tool, a folded white cloth and a canvas bag. A yellow tent canvas forms the background.A photograph at a crowded outdoor Kumbh Mela camp of an ascetic performing a headstand on a leopard-print mat. His body is held upright with a rope tied around his waist, and his bare legs point straight up. Scattered dark ash and charcoal lumps lie on the sandy ground. Behind him, people in white dhotis and kurtas, a woman in a red-bordered white sari, and a woman in a brown dress move among tents with pink and yellow canopies and small flags.