4.30 am the crowd grows in strength

rrival of the sadhus, some on horseback, some by foot, the crowd gets excited

Prilgimage one in the millions

he sadhu leaders taking a dip and performing their ritual, a trident, a trumpet and then it happen

The mad rush into the sangum area (sangum is a Hindu holy place of gathering where the rivers meet)

The mad rush to get a dip in the holy river

I am cleansed

I am blessed

Dressing and undressing by the thousands, or millions

After the dip, the spirits are high, they bathe, they dance, they are still naked. These are the Juna Akhara Sadhu, they cover themselves in ashes and are always almost naked.

The sun about to rise at dawn

To the beats of drums, cheering and shouting, they parade for the millions of pilgrim

Daybreak but the party is not over, i had avoided a night where security used canes, batons and even horses to prevent me from getting near. Overcoming the crowd, I took the pictures.