Mahakumbh 2025: Who are the Naga Sadhus and why do they captivate millions?

Produced by: Manoj Kumar

Eternal renunciates

Naga Sadhus are mystics who renounce worldly ties, living in isolation to pursue spiritual enlightenment and the ultimate goal of liberation, or moksha.

Guardians of faith

Belonging to 13 akhadas (monastic orders), they are protectors of Sanatan Dharma, maintaining ancient traditions passed down over centuries.

Kumbh connection

The Mahakumbh is a divine reunion for Naga Sadhus, where they emerge after years of penance to lead the grand ritual of shahi snan (royal bath).

Celestial summons

Astrology and spiritual insights guide Naga Sadhus to the Kumbh Mela, marking it as an event foretold by the cosmos and destined for spiritual purification.

Living bare

Discarding clothing symbolizes their detachment from materialism. For Naga Sadhus, nudity signifies purity, freedom, and unity with nature.

Ash-covered mystics

Smeared in sacred ash from ritualistic fires, Naga Sadhus claim it connects them to divine energy, protecting and empowering their physical and spiritual selves.

Monastic spectacle

Their grand processions at Mahakumbh, with chants, conch shells, and tridents, captivate millions, embodying a blend of mysticism and spirituality.

Twelve-year return

The Mahakumbh, held every 12 years, is the only time these mystics emerge from seclusion to bathe at the Sangam, believed to cleanse sins and recharge spiritual energy.

Epitome of austerity

Their lives of rigorous discipline, yoga, and meditation make Naga Sadhus a symbol of ultimate spiritual resolve and human endurance.