UPHONGOLO - It's a hive of activity at the eMashobeni Palace in uPhongolo KwaZulu-Natal.
Thousands of maidens from across the country have gathered to celebrate Umkhosi Womhlanga.
It's an AmaZulu cultural event where young girls and women celebrate their purity and parade before the AmaZulu king.
The King's spokesperson, Mpiyakhe Buthelezi, has cautioned those who take pictures of maidens in order to report and degrade them.
“Photos should not be taken with an intention to humiliate people. Some are taking photos to send put wrong information this is why we don't want people to take photos down there in the river," said Buthelezi.