Postcards from the Kumbh

A sadhu checks out lensman Shekhar Ghosh's camera.

A naga sadhu struts his stuff before a crowd of onlookers.

Uttar Pradesh police patrol the mela grounds.

Spread over 5,911.89 acres, the Maha Kumbh Mela is more than just a quest for spirituality. It is a temporary city that creates a space for markets, religious music, meditation and games.

A foreigner watches as two sadhus from different akhadas have an argument.

A Tata Swach drinking counter. The water is provided free.

Apart from small kirana stores lining the edges of the road there are company outlets and promotional vans selling everything from tea to bank loans.

Horlicks, according to one of its salesmen, records sales worth Rs 10,000-15,000 on most days.

Sadhus from the Juna akhada, the oldest of all the saint sects, celebrated Republic Day with the crowd.

The tricolour was proudly visible all over the mela grounds.

This sadhu has sworn to forever keep his hand suspended in mid-air.

This sadhu has vowed to spend 12 years of his life standing. He takes occasional breaks on a swing.

It is not uncommon to see sadhus using mobile phones.

Devotees interact with a sadhu who has sworn to keep his hand suspended in mid-air forever.