shivratri kumbh and the nagaa sadhus

I have finally mastered how to do the blog with pix..... yeh....
we left laxman jhula at 7 first doing arati at the big shiv temple on the other side of the river. Bhagawati has left by bus cause she had a call saying she had to be there at 730 since the shahi snan had be moved to 830.
We drive through the Rajaji National PArk, I see only a peacock and 2 tied up elephants. In Hardwar, there are crowds crowds crowds everywhere. We manage to get to the last parking lot, whilst all the way people are bending to fold their hands to Radhaji, who is folding her hands to everyone. We have been alowed in because Radhaji has said that she is fomAvahan Akhada, has a pass, so they let us threw one barrier after the other..no vehicles allowed.

We pass many many people getting ready for the procession... this one is of SOham Baba or is Pilot Baba... they are carrying signs against global warming and carrying trees and telling people to plant and look after trees. MAny foreigners... Swamis pix in the background

We walk into a camp for the Avahan akhad and we walk into the enclave of the Naga Sadhus of Juna Akhada. There are fires lit everywhere, it is cold, and naga sadhus smeared with ash are everywhere. There is tent after tent affter tent, and groups of naga sadhus just hanging around. It is not uncomfortable, and there is a relaxation and comfort all around......

We go to this tent, where Radha is known, he calls her in, he is sitting on a bed, surrounded by about ten naga sadhus.... who have just handed him the chillum. He smokes, passes it on, and then I too take a puff, getting stoned immediatly...

they all wear flowers, and the ash on their face adds to their annonymity...

This guy was dancing away....

some more.....

This is a place where noone is allowed in... but we saw quite a few strolling around, taking pictures. But the procession is to start and there is movement and find our way out....

So much happened that day that am splitting the blog ... I have to go to each video and there are heaps more....and find a pix then go onto movie maker, make a snap and save it in a file i have to find...then upload it.... enough work for a day ... so the procession.... of sadhus..... beats the republic day for sure....