Holy baptism

Few places are held in such reverence as the River Ganges, and it’s common for Hindus to bathe in the waters of ‘Mother Ganga’ to wash away their sins. This has made it a popular pilgrimage site for travellers, too, keen to witness the spectacular displays of mass human devotion. Any visitor would be blessed to be able to metaphorically wade into the Ganges the way that Ning Yu Pao has.

These images cover the river at its religious peak: the Kumbh Mela festival, when thousands flock to its banks to pray, scatter petals, read scriptures and patiently wait their turn to bathe – even at night when the water is freezing. A remarkable display of dedication – much like that of Ning Yu Pao’s images, which saw the photographer awarded the ‘highly commended’ title in the Portfolio category of the Wanderlust Travel Photo of the Year 2017 competition.