Yesterday, as I finally got back to shore, somewhat exhausted by the struggle against the current, a procession went by. There must have been 500 people dressed almost entirely in white, women carrying offerings on their heads, men with parasols and flags of single colors - red, yellow, orange, one the holy checkered black and white, a long white banner running over the heads twenty or so people who held it up, gamalon chiming, and two with elaborate boxes that might have been ashes. I sat in the warm water and watched them go by. Photo off web. - dc