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Devotees wade chest-deep in a shallow river during a ritual bath at a Kumbh Mela shahi snan procession. In the centre, a smiling man in a draped red-maroon cloth with a heavy gold necklace and rudraksha-style beads raises both arms. Around him, saffron and orange robed sadhus and devotees, some with red and gold garlands, raise their hands; a white-clad figure stands at left, and long red ceremonial poles rise behind. Salmon-pink temple buildings and a green canopy sit in the background under bright sunlight.

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A photograph of a Shahi Snan bathing procession at the Kumbh Mela in Ujjain, with devotees wading waist-deep in a river under a bright blue sky. In the centre, a man in a deep red-maroon dhoti and draped cloth wears heavy gold ceremonial necklaces and a large gold pendant, with red and maroon beaded bracelets on both arms, arms raised high as he cheers. Around him, several people in orange and saffron robes raise their hands in joy, a woman in white and red stands at left, and a man in white with gold border dhoti is also raising his arms. Brightly coloured umbrellas in orange, yellow and green are held above the procession, and a small temple spire is visible in the background.2016-04-22April 22 20162016-04-22April 22 20162016-04-22April 22 20162016-04-22April 22 20162016-04-22Photo of a group of devotees bathing in water under a bright blue sky, arms raised in celebration. In the centre, a smiling man wears a wet red-orange ochre cloth wrapped over his body, with heavy gold necklaces, a gold pendant and red beaded bracelets on both arms. Beside him on the left, a man in white dhoti and white shirt with a gold border, also wearing gold necklaces, raises his hands. Behind them, several sadhus in saffron and orange robes with gold chains and red malas stand in the water, and a woman in red and a woman on the left smile. Red and green umbrellas with fringed edges rise above the crowd, and a pink-roofed temple tower appears in the background.2016-04-22April 22 20162016-04-22April 22 20162016-04-22A crowd of devotees bathes waist-deep in a murky river during the Shahi Snan procession at the Ujjain Kumbh Mela. In the centre, a man with long dark hair and a gold-bead necklace with a large pendant wears a deep red-maroon cloth and raises both arms and open palms toward the sky. Around him, robed sadhus in saffron, red and white garments raise their hands, some holding tall red and orange ceremonial poles. A pink temple-style building with a dome and a green-and-red umbrella stand behind the group under a clear blue sky. Other devotees wear rudraksha-style red and white bands and gold necklaces. A photographer's camera is visible at the left edge.2016-04-22A photograph of a river bathing ritual at a sacred ghat. In the foreground, a central man in a deep red-brown dhoti-style cloth, wet and smiling, raises both arms overhead, with heavy gold-toned ornate necklaces and a large gold pendant on his chest and beaded red bracelets on his wrists. Around him stand devotees wading in shallow water: a woman in white with a red border and a red shawl, men in saffron-orange robes with rudraksha-style beaded necklaces, and others in maroon. Brightly coloured umbrellas in green, orange and red are held aloft over the group. Behind them is a pink-and-cream temple gateway under a clear blue sky. People in the crowd are partly visible and the central figure is clearly the focus.2016-04-22April 22 20162016-04-22Outdoor photograph of a shahi snan bathing procession at a river ghat under a clear blue sky. In the centre, a smiling man with long swept-back dark hair stands waist-deep in greenish water, wearing a red-brown wrap and a heavy gold ceremonial necklace with a temple-shaped pendant, his hands extended over the water. Around him devotees crowd in the water: a bald sadhu in orange robes with a garland, a man in white dhoti with gold trim, and a figure in a red sash at right. Behind them, sadhus hold tall red and green-fringed ceremonial umbrellas and poles, with a temple tower visible in the background.2016-04-22