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spoonbender | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> Allahabad tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Allahabad

City of God. It becomes obvious very quickly upon arrival in Allahabad that this city is very important to Hindus and virtually devoid of anything really for tourists to see or do. The main bathing place has no ghats or temples to speak of. In fact, it is a place in the middle of the confluence of two rivers that the locals have marked as the center of the two rivers, which is of course an arbitrary placement, since, you know, rivers flow and ebb and change sizes. But so I went there for a day and a half and it was okay. I saw some processions and some people whip themselves into religious frenzies, which was interesting and very moving, actually. Never saw anything like it in person before. But, like I said, there is very little for tourists to do in this town.
In the processions, one guy carries a flag. As they approach the temple, they do strange things with it
In the processions, one guy carries a flag. As they approach the temple, they do strange things with it
It was as dry, dusty and as hot a place as I've ever been
It was as dry, dusty and as hot a place as I've ever been
See
See
Processions, going from the river to the temple
Processions, going from the river to the temple
Beggars
Beggars
Dust, trees, the Fort
Dust, trees, the Fort
Nice pose
Nice pose
This guy is holding the flag pole, which is in someone's eye or mouth or crotch
This guy is holding the flag pole, which is in someone's eye or mouth or crotch
A flag bearer, in pain
A flag bearer, in pain
Frenetic drumming and spontaneous dancing all over
Frenetic drumming and spontaneous dancing all over
Procession
Procession
Felt like I was in Darfur
Felt like I was in Darfur
I mean, it was hot, windy and dusty
I mean, it was hot, windy and dusty
The crowd around a flag pole bearer
The crowd around a flag pole bearer
One of Allahabad's avenues
One of Allahabad's avenues