Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
A photograph of a ritual bathing scene in shallow river water on a bright day. In the centre, a person in a dark red wrapped garment and gold necklaces is being poured water over the head by two men beside them, one in a white dhoti with a gold-bordered cloth and gold necklaces, the other shirtless with arm bands. Around them, saffron-robed sadhus with gold chains and malas stand in the water, and a crowd of people in red and white clothing with rudraksha malas watches. Several umbrellas in orange, yellow, red and green shade the scene, and a pink-walled building with a domed tower stands behind. A brass vessel floats in the lower left corner.

More like this

Open the gallery
April 22 20162016-04-22Outdoor shahi snan ritual at a river ghat during the Ujjain Kumbh Mela. Saints and devotees stand waist-deep in greenish water as a bare-headed man in a red-brown dhoti with a gold necklace is doused by a splash of water. Around him, men and women wear saffron and orange robes, white dhotis, rudraksha malas and gold garlands. Two people hold up a red and a green ceremonial umbrella at the right edge. A pink temple with a tower stands behind the crowd under bright blue sky, and an uniformed police officer appears at the top right.2016-04-22Outdoor photo of a river-bank ritual at a Kumbh Mela. Several people stand waist-deep in shallow greenish water under a clear blue sky. In the centre, a person in a deep maroon-red robe with a large gold pendant and beaded necklaces cups water in both hands, which pours out between the fingers. Around them, devotees hold up green, orange and red decorated umbrellas. On the left, a man in a white dhoti and sash with gold chains and a woman in white stand beside another woman in a dark red shawl. On the right, saffron-clad sannyasis with shaved heads and gold necklaces smile, and a bare-armed devotee in a maroon wrap reaches up. Pink temple architecture appears in the background.2016-04-22May 09th 20162016-05-09A photograph of a shahi snan bathing procession at a river ghat. A man in a red-brown dhoti and shawl, wearing a large gold pendant necklace and rudraksha-style beads, stands waist-deep in water with cupped hands raised, pouring water. Around him, saffron-robed sadhus with gold necklaces and shaved heads stand in the water. Behind them, devotees hold green, orange and red umbrellas, and a man in a white dhoti with gold border and gold garland stands at left. Several women in white and red saris watch from the shore, with a pink temple tower behind them under a bright blue sky.2016-04-22A photograph of a shahi snan procession at the Kumbh Mela, with a man in wet dark red-brown robes standing waist-deep in shallow water, smiling and raising one arm while holding a red and gold ornate ceremonial item. He wears heavy gold necklaces with a large gold pendant and red beaded armbands. Around him, devotees wade in the water: a man in white dhoti with gold border and a long gold garland, a woman in white with a red shawl and gold necklaces, and a bald man in orange robes with gold necklaces. Colourful umbrellas in red, green, and yellow are held overhead by the crowd, with an orange temple spire and trees in the background under a clear blue sky. Scattered flower petals float on the water.2016-04-22Outdoor photo of a group of devotees standing waist-deep in a river during a shahi snan bathing procession. In the centre, a person in a deep red-maroon garment with a heavy gold ornate necklace cups water in both hands, which pours out between the fingers. Around them, devotees wear orange and saffron robes, white dhotis and red-brown shawls, many with gold garlands and rudraksha-style bead bracelets. Several raise hands or hold objects, and multicoloured parasols in green, orange and red stand above the crowd. A pale pink temple tower with a dome is visible in the background under a clear blue sky.2016-04-22April 22 20162016-04-22April 22 20162016-04-22A 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 20162016-04-22A photo of a bare-chested man in a deep red wrapped cloth standing waist-deep in water at a river ghat, eyes closed, with a large gold pendant necklace and many beaded garlands. Around him, devotees in white and orange garments with rudraksha malas and gold necklaces crowd the water; some hold red and green umbrellas on poles, and a pink temple structure with a domed tower stands behind under a clear blue sky. Attendees in white dhotis and orange robes watch and assist, and a bearded man in a dark shirt at lower left reaches toward the bather.2016-04-22