Kumbha Mela
2001 Photo Gallery Index |
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Jan. 8, 2001 |
The crowds are pouring in for the the first big
day, Paush
Purnima, which is
tomorrow, Jan. 9. People piled high on horse carriages and
rickshaws. Sadhus by the hundreds. The prices are rocketing and
Allahabad is beginning to swell from a little over a million to who
knows what. |
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Jan. 12, 2001 |
All of these
photographs were taken between 11am and 4.30pm on 12th
January. Two days to Makar Sankranti when seven million are expected to
be here for their snan (dip in the Ganga). |
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Jan. 14,
2001 |
Makar
Sankranti - I think there were between
4.5 to 5 million pilgrims having their snan on the 14th, Makar Sankranti,
and NOT 7 million as
the authorities and the papers will have us believe. A lot is perhaps
due to the over-reaction of the mela administration to what they thought
the numbers would be. |
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Jan. 21,
2001 |
Photos of life
as-it-happens at the Kumbha Mela during the days between Makar Sankranti
and Mauni Amavasya. Holy men hold meetings, Wood and food
are distributed. Pilgrims continue to bathe in the Ganga river, and
pilgrims from the West tell their stories of why they are here. |
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Jan. 24, 2001 |
Mauni
Amavasya - I believe there were in the
region of 20 million people, plus or minus a couple of million, on Mauni
Amavasya. The numbers flowing in and out were
considerable - in the hundreds of thousands every hour. It was truly
awesome. There was a kind of dreamlike quality to it all. |
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Jan.
29, 2001 |
Basant
Panchami - This is the
last of the shahi snan days. I believe about 4 million to 4.5 million
people had their snan on 29th January. Most of the Akaharas
will be packing up to leave within the next few days. |
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Feb. 3,
2001 |
There
is still a lot going on at the mela but this is a quieter time. People
are bathing, vendors are selling, and spiritual talks are still
attracting crowds. People will start pouring in beginning on the 6th in
preparation for Magh Purnima, the next bathing day on February 8th. |
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Feb.
7, 2001 |
The day
before Maghi Purnima, pilgrims are arriving, bathing, doing puja and
preparing for the full moon which marks the beginning of the second to
last sacred bathing day of this Kumbh Mela. |
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Feb.
8, 2001 |
Maghi
Purnima comes
at the end of the auspicious month of Magh. It brings to an end the
cycle of this Kumbh Mela and, with its conclusion, thousands of pilgrims
called Kalpvasis, who have spent weeks here will now be packing up and
going home. |
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Feb.
19, 2001 |
As the
infrastructure of the Kumbh Mela is being dismantled, pilgrims are
arriving for the last day of the Mela, Maha Shivatri. The government of
Uttar Pradesh is congratulating itself on a successful event. |
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Feb.
21, 2001 |
The Kumbh
Mela has ended with Maha
Shivratri.
Tony took photos not only at the Sangam but also at Shiva temples in the
vicinity of Allahabad. The next Kumbh Mela at Allahabad will not be
until the year 2013. |
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