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A dense outdoor procession at a Kumbh Mela site, viewed from above. A gilded, ornately decorated ratha or palanquin carries a seated figure draped in garlands and flowers, with a golden crown-like canopy at its top. Men in white dhotis and bare-chested sadhus with ash-smeared bodies press along a yellow metal barrier on the left, while uniformed police and volunteers in green-and-yellow vests line the route. Red and orange flags are held aloft, and two large green-and-gold ornamental umbrellas shelter the procession. Vendor stalls and banners line the street behind.

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May 21 20162016-05-21A large street procession moves through a crowded road lined with trees and spectators. At the centre, a gilded ornate palanquin with a golden canopy and garlands carries a seated figure in orange and red clothing, with a rudraksha-style garland. Two bearers in orange stand on the palanquin. Walking alongside are many men in white dhotis with rudraksha malas and sacred thread, and women in white saris with garlands. Red flags with a saffron emblem and a large green umbrella-style canopy are carried through the crowd. Onlookers watch from the roadside and a wall. A tall pole with a loudspeaker appears at right.2016-05-21A dense outdoor procession at a Kumbh Mela-style festival, with a large crowd pressed against yellow metal barriers. On the left, many naked or near-naked ascetics with ash-smeared bodies and long hair crowd forward, one man in white undergarments leaping over the barrier. On the right, a golden ornate ratha/palanquin carries a seated figure in orange and gold garments garlanded with flowers, beneath a gold canopy with a kalasha finial. Around it, people in white dhotis and orange clothing walk alongside, and uniformed police in khaki and high-visibility vests line the route. Red and orange flags, a green-and-gold umbrella, and banners fill the scene, with tents and trees behind.2016-05-21A dense crowd fills a city street during a procession. At the centre, a gold-decorated ratha/palanquin carries a seated figure in an orange robe beneath an ornate golden canopy garlanded with flowers; attendants in white stand around it and a figure in orange and white stands beside. Red and orange flags fly and large green umbrellas shade the procession. Many people along the barricades wear grey ash or are smeared with it, and banners and tents line the road under flowering trees.2016-05-21A dense procession crowd moves along a barricaded street in an Indian city, lined with orange and red saffron flags. At centre, a gilded golden palanquin or ratha carries a decorated deity murti garlanded with flowers, with a golden canopy above and offerings in front. A man in an orange-saffron garment stands near the palanquin and a man in white dhoti and shirt guides the moving platform. Many devotees in white, some in saffron, press against the barriers, while police in khaki and yellow-vested volunteers manage the route. Several sadhus at left are covered in grey ash, and green and gold umbrellas shade the lower foreground. Red and yellow flags and small banners fill the scene. The procession is a ratha/palanquin procession with dense devotee participation.2016-05-21May 21 20162016-05-21A dense outdoor procession at a Kumbh Mela-style event, viewed from above. A large gilded palanquin or ratha carrying an ornate golden canopy and a seated figure is pulled through a packed crowd. Numerous devotees wear white and orange clothing, and many are bare-chested with ash-smeared bodies. Red and orange triangular flags on tall poles rise through the crowd, and two large green and gold embroidered umbrellas shade the procession. Police in khaki and hi-vis vests line a yellow metal barricade. Makeshift tents and banners with colourful signage stand along the roadside, and a few tall trees are visible at the top.2016-05-21A dense crowd fills a street during a procession. On the right, an ornate golden palanquin or ratha carries a decorated figure seated on a golden seat, with garlands of marigolds and flowers. Attendants in white and saffron stand around it, and a man in orange clothing stands on the right. Many people wear white, orange and saffron, and some are covered in grey-white ash. Red and saffron flags are carried above the crowd, a large green patterned umbrella shades the front, and police in khaki uniforms walk among the people behind a metal barricade. Orange and red flags and banners line the street.2016-05-21Photo of a dense crowd at a Kumbh Mela procession. A raised golden palanquin-style platform, decorated with flower garlands and a gilded canopy, carries a seated figure in red and gold robes wearing a red headdress. Beside the platform, an attendant in orange cloth stands. Crowds of mostly white-clad devotees and many ash-smeared sadhus with bare upper bodies press behind golden metal barricades. Red and orange flags rise above the throng, and a green patterned umbrella is held in the foreground. Uniformed police officers and volunteers in yellow vests keep order. Vendor stalls and banners line the street.2016-05-21May 09th 20162016-05-09May 21 20162016-05-21April 22 20162016-04-22