Paramilitary presence at Hindu religious gathering bar photos at Hardiwar Har-Ki-Pairi; cites terrorism, nudity.

Paramilitary control of India’s massive Kumbh Mela religious pilgrimage in Hardiwar have extended security measures to prohibit western tourists from taking photos at Har-Ki-Pairi temple, warned American travel photographer Tom Carter.

The three month-long bathing festival along the holy Ganges river in northern Uttarakhand state occurs once every 12 years and is expected to see 50 million Hindu devotees performing “puja” (prayers) and washing away their sins in the sub-zero waters, however camera-toting international tourists will be disappointed when they are turned away at the entrance.

“Only photojournalists with official Mela-stamped press passes are being allowed in the Harkipairi bathing ghats to take photos; casual photographers have to keep their cameras at their hotel or risk a tongue lashing or, worse, confiscation of your gear,” said Carter following his attendance of the Purna Kumbha Mela Makar Sankranti and Mauni Amavasya and Surya Grahan Solar Eclipse first and second snan (baths) on January 14-15, 2010.  “I spent not a little time and money getting to Hardiwar, and I know other westerners will too, so I think it is only fair to give my fellow photogs advance notice.”

“After being thrown out of Har-Ki-Pairi one too many times for taking pictures, I diligently sought, and was granted, an audience with the Inspector General himself in charge of Mela security to try to obtain a ‘pedestrian photo permit.’ But as courteous as he was to actually hear my appeal, I was still denied the permit because I lack a J-Visa.”

The inspector told Carter that terrorism threats as well as the “lakhs” of nude bathers were the main reasons to restrict photography at the bathing ghats.  Carter claims, however, that he saw Indian tourists left alone to snap photos, suggesting a double standard against westerners on the part of Mela enforcers.

Nonetheless, despite over 100 closed-circuit cameras, numerous companies of armed constables and 20,000 police personnel on high alert, Carter says he and other nimble photographers lacking accreditation were still able to appropriate the occasional shot. Some of Carter’s Mela images have recently been uploaded onto his Flickr account here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/indiaphotography/

“I was planning on attending the Maha Shivratri Pratham Shahi Snan first royal bath on February 12 and the main royal bath on April 14 to photograph the infamous Naga Sadhu processions, however I was informed that tourists won’t even be allowed in the proximity of HarKiPairi on those dates.  Westerners be warned!!!”

Carter says he will continue to appeal to Mela administrators to get his hands on a press pass so that he can document the triennial ritualistic bathing of what is considered the largest religious gathering of Hindus in the world.  Alternatively, he suggests the natural setting and more laid-back atmosphere of the Magh Mela at Sangam in Allahabad.

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Travel photographer Tom Carter will be backpacking to every state in India over the next several years to complete his next book of photography INDIA: Portrait of a People.  Carter’s first book, the critically praised CHINA: Portrait of a People, will be sold on Amazon.Com beginning this June.  Help support Tom Carter’s travels by ordering your advanced copy today.

http://amzn.com/9889979942

http://www.tomcarter.org/

http://www.blacksmithbooks.com/9789889979942.htm