SocialDocumentary.net | Jay Dorfman | Kumbh Mela 2013

Photographer: Jay Dorfman

Organization: Medialand

Title: Kumbh Mela 2013

Location: India

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Young naga Sadhus

Kumbh Mela is a rare social, political, religious and cultural phenomena. As the largest and oldest religious gathering in the world worshippers from around the globe gather at the banks of the Sacred River Ganges for the opportunity to bath in the Holy Waters in exchange for Moksha, otherwise known as a promise from the Gods to guarantee freedom from the cycle of life and death.

In this city of Allahabad pop. 1. 7M, over 40 milion will arrive for the auspicious bathing date, Feb. 10th, 2013. An almost other-wordly procession of Sadhus and holy men will lead the procession on this date followed by families who have camped out for months to celebrate this high holy event.

These photos and video clip were gathered during the 5 days leading up to and following the bathing date.

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Kumbh Mela 2013 from jay dorfman on Vimeo.

This brief video travelogue tracks my recent visit to Allahabad and the Kumbh Mela.

I awoke at 3am to arrive at the Sacred river in time for the sun to come uo on the Feb. 10th auspicious bathing date. By the time we could experience daylight the river and all paths leading to the Ganga were streaming with millions of pilgrims. the chants of Hari Om began to grow louder as the sun rose into the sky and revealed 1000's of Sadhus making their way to their ritual bath.

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