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Maha Kumbh Mela 2013 photo essay ...

A Mahanirvani akhara procession towards Triveni Sangam, Maha Kumbh Mela



An ascetic at Sangam



Devotees at a Khalsa akhara camp



Radha Krishna play enactment at an ashram, Maha Kumbh Mela



A sadhu does the sun worship while taking the dip at Triveni Sangam



Another sadhu rejoices after a dip on February 10, 2013, Mauni Amavyasa day.



Two vendors at the Maha Kumbh Mela grounds




A man takes a mobile image as a sadhu blesses while he stands on the bonnet of a car




A ascetic doing yoga as an akhara procession returns back on a shahi snan day




Two sadhus rejoice after the holy dip at Triveni sangam, Maha Kumbh Mela 2013




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Sadhus rejoice during a shahi snan day.





Returning back after the royal bath





At Sri Anandamayi Ma Ashram camp of Maha Kumbh Mela 2013




Dreadlocks and braids of an ascetic




Sadhus of an akhara rush towards the Sangam on a shahi snan day




An elderly man rests for a moment as pilgrims walk towards the Triveni Sangam site




Khalsa akhara ascetic showing his gatka skills during an akhara procession



A devotee of ISCKON distributing Bhagavad Gita at Maha Kumbh Mela




A ascetic takes an afternoon nap , Maha Kumbh Mela 2013




Maha Kumbh Mela grounds as night falls



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Disciples young and old sing praise of Lord Krishna at Maha Kumbh Mela




An ascetic of an akhara at Maha Kumbh Mela





A prayer during the snan at Maha Kumbh Mela




A foreign devotee of an ashram




Mundan or tonsuring is considered most auspicious




An elderly devotee of ISKCON at Maha Kumbh Mela




A sadhu does yoga and floats as he baths at the Triveni Sangam on a shahi snan [royal bath] day



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[Rup_Chatterjee]

Beautiful pictures ADC one of best photos coming from your side, waiting for more, please share them at the earliest. These picture portrays unadulterated India, India we rarely see from our concrete abode. I can see that you have used your other lens barring your Favourite 11-16

[samarjitdhar]

Truly lucky ADC da for witnessing such a historic event which happens every 144 years. Your pictures actually capture in lifelike form the faith in the Almighty and religion evident from the intensity shown by the pilgrims, ascetics and saadhus who make it to this event. I am sure there are more pictures to come.

[adc]

Originally Posted by girishglg

Saw the title and instantaneously realised of course such a super photologue of the Maha Kumbh could be framed by our one any only adc!!

Super start there and loved the hair flip pic of the sadhu. What a well timed capture making a mundane act such a visual of art!

Hope the week long camping at the site have many more of such superlative visuals and looking forward for them with bated breath now.

You do not cease to wow adc be it the Chap raasta video a must watch and an all time favourite - http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...er-2011-a.html or any of your excursions. Just super!

Originally Posted by goswami.j

Awesome. My salute to you for undertaking this awesome journey.

Originally Posted by arindamray

it is indeed an achievement to experience such an event. somewhere it brings the belief, faith and may be more important than that humility. may be the bengalee's in the group have gone through Kalkut's epic 'Kothay Pabo Tare' which helps to visualise it. thanks adc for bringing it before our eyes.

Originally Posted by swami.n

Fantastic write up and photos. And the fact that you made the trip with the bullet, makes it even more awesome. A chance to witness the maha kumbh for people like us who could not be there in person. Many thanks.

Originally Posted by rulerofsun

Thanks for the wonderful pictures. Seems we both enjoyed clicking the flute sellers. I was my first Kumbh and a great one.

Regards
RoS

Originally Posted by TwinHead

salute you sir for the great treat you have given to our eyes.
For many who wanted to go and dint, due to various reasons, this is the thread to get your guilt off. Thank you once again.

Originally Posted by Rup_Chatterjee

Beautiful pictures ADC one of best photos coming from your side, waiting for more, please share them at the earliest. These picture portrays unadulterated India, India we rarely see from our concrete abode. I can see that you have used your other lens barring your Favourite 11-16

Originally Posted by samarjitdhar

Truly lucky ADC da for witnessing such a historic event which happens every 144 years. Your pictures actually capture in lifelike form the faith in the Almighty and religion evident from the intensity shown by the pilgrims, ascetics and saadhus who make it to this event. I am sure there are more pictures to come.

Thank you all for appreciation. It was definitely a huge experience for me - a mass gathering of humanity where everyone was invited.

One can be indifferent or agnostic or an atheist, but anyone who has spend some time at the Maha Kumbh Mela will marvel at the sights and sounds of this vast ground. The rich and poor, the eccentric and the mundane, the learned and the simpletons all have their place.

Walking everyday anywhere between 10-20 km, bewildered by the vastness and diversity, and also personal talk with a number of people from sadhus to pilgrims as to why they have come here and as to the significance - it was a brilliant and everlasting memorable experience for me.

Later on at the end of the images, will share some of the interesting information and talk that I had over there.


And some interesting stats from BBC.com

Number expected to bathe: 100 million
Number of days: 55
Area: 20 sq km (4,932 acres)
Drinking water: 80 million litres
Toilets: 35,000
Doctors: 243
Police: 30,000
Number united at lost-and-found centre since 14 January: 40,000
Number treated at 14 hospitals: 152,326

Originally Posted by rulerofsun

Thanks for the wonderful pictures. Seems we both enjoyed clicking the flute sellers. I was my first Kumbh and a great one.

Glad to hear that it was a great experience. Do share more images as you feel.

Originally Posted by Rup_Chatterjee

I can see that you have used your other lens barring your Favourite 11-16

Thanks again, 15-85 it is.

[rulerofsun]

Originally Posted by adc

Glad to hear that it was a great experience. Do share more images as you feel..

Thanks for the go ahead Dada. Here are a few more.

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Ascetics and sadhus rush towards the Triveni Sangam




An elderly sadhu being taken towards the Sangam area for a dip on a shahi snan day



An ascetic, trishul, damaru and holy water of the Sangam





Pilgrims stop and listen to sermons and talk of an ashram, Maha Kumbh Mela 2013




Asetics on their way back to their akharas after the holy dip




A train passes over the Kumbh Mela grounds, the Prayag-Jhusi broad gauge single line



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This sadhu was carrying water of all holy rivers, seen here heading towards Sangam on the Mauni Amavyasa snan day. He was also distributing toffees as prasad to anyone who was around.




Sadhus at the Sangam waters on the royal bath day




This naga sadhu [right] suddenly was feeling unwell as the procession headed back towards the akhara camp, being escorted and helped by another sadhu




A devotee at an ISKCON procession





At the Triveni Sangam





A sadhu looks back at the camera as he blesses a pilgrim




Two naga sadhus bless pilgrims at the Maha Kumbh Mela, 2013



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Two juvenile naga sadhus, the youngest is around 10 years old



A naga sadhu of an akhara, Mauni Amavasya, February 10, 2013



A sadhu doing yoga and asana



An akhara procession at Maha Kumbh Mela




Pilgrims line up to have glimpse as an akhara procession passes by



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[mobike008]

ADC, thanks for the fantastic views of the Kumbh Mela. I am not sure if i will ever be part of it but, you have provided a succint picture of what exactly happens there.

Majority of the pictures are truly outstanding and you have captured the essence well. What was your camera gear?

Ah! what makes it even more special was that you did this trip on a BULL

[adc]

Originally Posted by mobike008

What was your camera gear?

Ah! what makes it even more special was that you did this trip on a BULL

Thank you too for the good words! Camera was Canon 60D with 15-85 lens, which was used 90%of the time. Tokina 11-16 and Canon 55-250 were also used few times. Low light performance on the whole was bad with this setup and the 55-250 focused erratically at the exact fleeting moment that it was required, a few good shots were lost.

It was a great Bullet trip, with hours on the saddle and few breaks in between. Good to see you too enjoying the new Bullet, I am sure would be quite surprised by the overall advancement if I ride the new ones.



Pilgrims pay obeisance as an akhara procession pass by





A guruji with his disciples at Triveni Sangam of Maha Kumbh Mela 2013





Two young Naga sadhus at Juna akhara







Sadhus rejoice as they bath at the Sangam, Maha Kumbh Mela




Sadhus move back to their camp after a dip at the Triveni Sangam


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[iliketurtles]

I'm not one to enjoy many travelogues, but yours was really something I was glued to. Loved the pictures, loved the passion in your writeup. Two thumbs up, and then some. Cheers!

[ebonho]

Fantastic National Geographic type pics ADC! Hats off for the ride and the spiritual experience of a liftime bro.

[akroy]

ADC da, wonderful pics. your thread and wonderful pics made me experience/enjoy the maha-kumbh from the far-far west.

How was the ride on the Bullet? Must be blast on NH2.

Abhi