http://www.lightstalkers.org/galleries/contact_sheet/3441 A few still images from the world's largest religious gathering. The Ardh Kumbh Mela 2007 took place in the holy city of Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh on a dried out riverbed in Ganges. The confluence of three holy rivers, the Yamuna, the Ganges and the mythical Saraswati river makes this place auspicious and pilgrims from all over India meet up to take holy dips in the freezing water. These strong believers perform the ritual known as pooja, at a place called Sangam, to free themselves from all sins obtained in life. This years Kumbh Mela attracted huge crowds - some people say up to 70 million visitors - and made this spectacular event one of the most colourful and special places on the face of our planet. 25.000 tents were erected on a place covering more than 35.000 sq. km and the party lasted for a whole month. http://www.lightstalkers.org en-us http://images.lightstalkers.org/avatars/27146/poul1_small_small.jpg http://www.lightstalkers.org/Poul Madsen <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/86860/MakarSankrati_small.jpg' /><br />On the morning of Makar Sankrati, on of the holiest days in India, 10 million people arrive at the holy place by the rivers known as Sangam <br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86860'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86860 Sat, 25 Aug 2007 07:55:55 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86860 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/86860/MakarSankrati_small.jpg' /><br />On the morning of Makar Sankrati, on of the holiest days in India, 10 million people arrive at the holy place by the rivers known as Sangam <br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86860'>view full-size image</a> Poul Madsen <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/86863/KumbhMela_small.jpg' /><br />Pilgrims performing pooja at 4.am on the shores of river Ganges. <br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86863'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86863 Sat, 25 Aug 2007 08:07:12 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86863 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/86863/KumbhMela_small.jpg' /><br />Pilgrims performing pooja at 4.am on the shores of river Ganges. <br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86863'>view full-size image</a> Poul Madsen <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/86866/RF9N3880-01_small.jpg' /><br />Local devotee from Allahabad<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86866'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86866 Sat, 25 Aug 2007 08:00:38 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86866 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/86866/RF9N3880-01_small.jpg' /><br />Local devotee from Allahabad<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86866'>view full-size image</a> Poul Madsen <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/86869/RF9N2195-01_small.jpg' /><br />Prilgrims passing a small temple outside the mela area<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86869'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86869 Sat, 25 Aug 2007 08:02:36 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86869 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/86869/RF9N2195-01_small.jpg' /><br />Prilgrims passing a small temple outside the mela area<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86869'>view full-size image</a> Poul Madsen <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/86872/FerrariRF9N3652-01_small.jpg' /><br />A pilgrim washing away his sins at the confluence of the two rivers<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86872'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86872 Sat, 25 Aug 2007 08:04:52 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86872 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/86872/FerrariRF9N3652-01_small.jpg' /><br />A pilgrim washing away his sins at the confluence of the two rivers<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86872'>view full-size image</a> Poul Madsen <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/86875/RF9N4225-01_small.jpg' /><br />Punjabis in colurful parade<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86875'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86875 Sat, 25 Aug 2007 08:06:17 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86875 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/86875/RF9N4225-01_small.jpg' /><br />Punjabis in colurful parade<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86875'>view full-size image</a> Poul Madsen <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/86884/FerrariRF9N2425-01_small.jpg' /><br />On the dusty road at night<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86884'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86884 Sat, 25 Aug 2007 08:17:06 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86884 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/86884/FerrariRF9N2425-01_small.jpg' /><br />On the dusty road at night<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86884'>view full-size image</a> Poul Madsen <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/86887/haand_small.jpg' /><br />The hand of a local sadhu, holy man. <br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86887'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86887 Sat, 25 Aug 2007 08:19:44 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86887 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/86887/haand_small.jpg' /><br />The hand of a local sadhu, holy man. <br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86887'>view full-size image</a> Poul Madsen <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/86893/sadhu_small.jpg' /><br />Sadhu in peaceful ritual away from the crowds<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86893'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86893 Sat, 25 Aug 2007 08:24:41 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86893 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/86893/sadhu_small.jpg' /><br />Sadhu in peaceful ritual away from the crowds<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86893'>view full-size image</a> Poul Madsen <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/86896/sadhu2_small.jpg' /><br />Naga Baba - a naked Sadhu in his camp<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86896'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86896 Sat, 25 Aug 2007 08:29:19 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86896 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/86896/sadhu2_small.jpg' /><br />Naga Baba - a naked Sadhu in his camp<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/86896'>view full-size image</a> Poul Madsen