YouTubers and Filmmakers Capture Female Naga Sannyasins at Kumbh Mela

by Sharad Rai

The largest fair on Earth, the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, has been making headlines worldwide. This grand event, taking place from January 13 to February 26, is expected to draw around 400 million people from across the globe who will come to take a holy dip in the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers. According to Hindu cultural and spiritual beliefs, a bath in the Maha Kumbh is said to bring liberation. A special feature of this Kumbh Mela is that the royal baths are first taken by Naga sadhus, who are naked ascetics. Among them are also female Naga sannyasins.

Female Naga Sannyasins: New Faces at Kumbh Mela with Enhanced Security

There is widespread curiosity about whether female Naga sannyasins also remain unclad and how they become ascetics. This curiosity has led thousands of press reporters and YouTubers to reach Prayagraj before the event. According to a journalist friend from Prayagraj, this year, a significant number of female Naga sadhus have arrived. The royal baths take place in a set order: first, the male Naga sadhus bathe, followed by the female Naga sadhus, and then the sadhus from the three major akhadas. Only after this is the general public allowed to take a dip. Female Naga sannyasins are provided with enhanced security for their safety.

In addition to reporters, a large number of filmmakers are also reaching the Kumbh Mela to capture the holy event on camera. From the preparations for this year's Kumbh Mela, YouTubers have already set up camp in Prayagraj, eager to document the event.

The life of Naga sadhus is steeped in mystery. They do not wear clothes and live entirely unclad. Even in the bitter cold, they only apply ash or vibhuti (holy powder) to their bodies. The origin of the Naga sadhus is said to date back to the 8th century, when Adi Shankaracharya, witnessing turmoil from heretics at the four monasteries he established, formed the akhadas with strong sadhus to protect the Dharma. In these akhadas, the sadhus practiced rigorous discipline and combat skills, ultimately earning the title of "Naga sadhus," meaning "naked." They would live in isolation, practicing their penance away from the eyes of the world. Over time, female Naga sadhus began to emerge.

Female Naga sadhus also undergo rigorous penance but are allowed to wear a single garment. They can wear a saffron-colored cloth that covers their body. Women are only allowed to tie a single knot in their cloth. This restriction is in place to preserve the social order. Only after 10 to 15 years of intense penance and celibate life can women become Naga sannyasins. The same strict rules apply to female Naga sadhus, who must prove their devotion and maintain celibacy for years before earning the right to be called a Naga.

Male and female Naga sadhus both shave their heads, perform their own rituals, and are only allowed to beg for food from seven people. They may go hungry but will not accept food from an eighth person. Upon death, they are not cremated but are buried in a meditative posture, entrusted to the earth.

The Naga sadhus, along with the Nagin sadhus (female Naga sadhus), are one of the major attractions of the Kumbh Mela. People eagerly await the moment when their akhadas will march toward the Sangam for the royal bath. To capture this magnificent sight, filmmakers are expected to arrive in large numbers for the 2025 Kumbh Mela, while YouTubers have already gathered in large crowds.

This event attracts media coverage from not just India, but from around the world. The Mahakumbh, which is held every 12 years, is particularly special this year, as an astrological alignment is said to occur once in 144 years. Because of this, many sages, ascetics, renunciants, and extraordinary Naga and female Naga sannyasins have gathered here. The Yogi government of Uttar Pradesh has made extensive security arrangements for the event, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself is closely monitoring the situation.

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