Kumbh Mela, unofficially the world’s biggest gathering, is held every four years in India. The Hindu holy festival attracts millions of devotees from the country and abroad. On special occasions, considered auspicious according to Hindu holy books, the number swells to a size that can dwarf the population of many western cities like in 2013 Allahabad Mahakumbh. Given the size of the Indian population – over 1.2 billion – this does not come as a surprise. But here you see pictures from Kumbh Mela of 1954 in Allahabad when the country’s entire population was in mere 36 million. Moreover, unlike these days the publicity of such festivals was not widespread.
1. The mela of faith
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2. Many yet few
3. Sailing the Ganges
4. Tents and two cars
5. A unique sight
6. Multitudes of ethnicity
7. Ganges conquered
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8. A bridge on the river of faith
9. All for a dip
10. As many more wait
11. That unique sight again
12. Drying on the banks
13. Another sight
14. And more are drying their clothes
15. A faith unparalleled
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16. Tents and people
17. A sun rises
18. Only boats sail
19. Camping on holy ground
20. Flocks of the faithful
21. All walking for salvation
22. An unbelievable sight
23. A Naga sanyasi sleeping
24. For cleansing of soul
25. An old brand promotion banner
26. The panorama of worshippers
27. Glory of the sun
28. A fine mix
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Credit: James Burke, photographer for LIFE magazine.
