Kumbha Mela
2001 Photo Gallery - Page 12 |
|
|
Photos taken January 15 -19, 2001. Daily life at the mela. |
|
 |
|
|
Paying
attention to the spiritual guidance of a sage. |
|
| * | * |
 |
 |
|
One of the many places providing free food to pilgrims. The women are actually men dressed in saris. Men like these who dress in women’s clothes are called Hijras in India. They have a special place in Indian culture. |
Sadhus,
off to their camp after lunch. |
| * | |
 |
 |
|
The camp of a family who have been here for six weeks. They help with putting down the poles and fences in the mela area. They expect to be here till the end of February. The picture shows all of the surplus chapatis, and dal, which instead of being wasted is passed on to them for drying. They can sell this or use it for animal feed when they get home. |
The children of the camp at
left. At least they are here together as a family and not left behind at
home in Fatepur, about 100km away. These children were full of laughter and
joy and happy to be acknowledged, unlike those elsewhere brought up by their
beggar parents to become professional beggars. |
| * | * |
|
|
|
|
Tents contain 35 double
rooms provided by the Uttar Pradesh Tourist Development
Corporation. All were fully booked. |
|
| * | |
| Previous Photos Back to Kumbha Mela Home Page Next Photos | |
