Armless man smoking a cheroot. Khumb Mela festival 2001-Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India.

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The Maha Khumb Mela of 2001 is believed to be the largest congregation of humanity in history. Some 60 million pilgrims visited this Hindu festival between the 9th of January and 21st of February. The Hindu belief is that gods and demons once fought a battle for a khumb (pitcher) containing the nectar of immortality. Four drops was spilled at four towns along the Ganges: Allahabad, Hardiwar, Nasik and Ujjain. A huge mela (fair) is held every 12th years at one of those holy places. The Maha Khumb at Allahabad is the largest and most significant of all as it only takes place every 144th year. Pilgrims from all over India massed to bath where three holy rivers cross: Ganges, Yamuna and the invisible, mythological river of Saraswati. The holy confluence of the three rivers is called Sangam.

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Size: 3513px × 5469px
Location: Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Photo credit: © Bjorn Svensson / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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