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15 images Created 24 Jun 2019

The Nectar of the Gods

The gods won. According to Hindu mythology, the gods won a hard fought battle with demons over a pot (Kumbh) containing nectar of immortality. During this 12 day battle however, a few drops of this precious nectar fell into the rivers of Haridwar, Ujjain, Nashik, and Prayagraj, India. The important religious festival of Kumbh Mela is thus celebrated four times over the course of 12 years at these holy locations.

As the largest religious gathering in the world, the Kumbh Mela receives Hindu pilgrims from all across India. The Hindu devotees travel far and wide to bathe in the holy rivers and free themselves from the cycle of birth and rebirth.

As a travel and documentary photographer, I am always intrigued by the power of faith. This faith draws Hindu devotees, some with very limited means, to travel hundreds of miles to this religious event. They come by any means necessary, many just on foot, and with very little clothing and food.

Despite their hardships while traveling, on arrival to the festival the pilgrims are met with a 15 square mile temporary tent city, featuring food stalls, hospitals, portable toilets, fire and police service. The pilgrims partake in many religious events as sermons, musical performances and of course, the opportunity to bathe in the sacred river.

Another integral part of the Mela are the Sadhus (holy men), who are sought out by the pilgrims for their blessings and enlightenment.

Naga Sadhus are typically naked except for ash smeared all over their bodies. They take a vow of celibacy and renounce all worldly possessions. Urdhwavahurs, another type of Sadhu, perform rigid spiritual practices such as holding an arm up for years on end. The Sadhus can be seen almost continuously smoking marijuana, which they claim helps them with their own enlightenment.

To experience the Kumbh Mela is to witness the power of faith bringing Hindu devotees of all various castes peacefully together in a celebration of spirituality. Indeed, in 2017 UNESCO listed the Kumbh Mela as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
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  • Hindu pilgrims cross one of the pontoon bridges on their way to the Kumbh Mela festival.  Prayagraj, India.
    India 2019-1074.jpg
  • A Hindu devotee prays while bathing in the sacred river at Kumbh Mela, 2019. Prayagraj, India.
    India 2019-1567.jpg
  • Women offer blessings at the Sangam, the confluence of the sacred rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati during the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, India.
    India 2019-964.jpg
  • A Hindu devotee prays at the Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna, and mystical Saraswati at Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, India.
    India 2019-1518.jpg
  • A holy man (Sadhu) blesses a Hindu devotee at Kumbh Mela, 2019. Prayagraj, India.
    India 2019-1488.jpg
  • A Naga Sadhu (Holy Man) smears ash over his body at Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, India.
    India 2019-1447.jpg
  • A group of Hindu women perform the bathing ritual during Kumbh Mela 2019, Prayagraj, India.
    India 2019-984.jpg
  • A Holy man (Sadhu) prepares hashish in his tent at the Kumbh Mela festival in Prayagraj, India.
    India 2019-1175.jpg
  • A Holy man (Sadhu)  sits in his tent at Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, India. As an ascetic practice, he has held his arm in this position for 10 years.
    India 2019-1417.jpg
  • Hindu devotees take a holy bath in the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers during Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, India.
    India 2019-981.jpg
  • A group of Hindu devotees  pray at the Kumbh Mela Festival 2019. Prayagraj, India.
    India 2019-1026.jpg
  • Hindu devotees take a holy bath in the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers during Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, India.
    India 2019-1550.jpg
  • Naga Sadhus (Holy men) enroute to bathe in the confluence of sacred rivers at the Kumbh Mela festival, Prayagraj, India.
    India 2019-1731.jpg
  • Naga Sadhus (Holy men) congregate in preparation for their holy bath during Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, India.
    India 2019-1812.jpg
  • A Hindu devotee   lifts her hands in prayer while bathing in the sacred river  during the Kumbh Mela Festival, 2019. Prayagraj, India.
    India 2019-998.jpg