before the kumbh procession -

this is what the street looked like before the procession was due to begin... there are there must be over 100000000 people here watching this event, on both sides of the long road, on every floor and terrace of thehouses lining the road..... and there is perpetual shouts of bhom bhom bolay bhol, jai bhole nath music cymbals, insence, and the cops.... the road is absolutely clear, with cops all around

one team of photographers walking down the street... and there are many of them...all with ptofessional digicams... is that a tripod in his hand....

A sadhu from an akhad to join after the jhuna akhada..who always lead the procession organising the group... there are lots of bands around,,, each group has this wedding band.... strange.... frankly i dont remember what music they played ...hope fully captured in the video...all these are images from videa and the effect of the sound going on and the movement really brings it to life...

a man dancing away going round and round with this kumbh on his head and beating the what do you call it, cymbals??? all throughout... i like his smile which is always there....

before the procession 4 cops on 4 horses come down the road...big horses...and they walk next to the rope tying people in.... so people outside the rope duck in...the horses are big

the line of cops which follow the horses.... this mix of sadhus and security...... its like no other kumbh i would imagine,,,

Cops tying the crowds on the side in with ropes....the lady in front was laughing away and everyone was helping the cops....

and the first glimpse of what is to come, the begining of the procession witht he juna akhada naga sadhus smeared in ash covered with flowers, holding trishuls, and sticks...

the highlights of the naga procession in next blog.....