'Nagas', the main attraction in Ardh Kumbh

Ardh Kumbh Nagar, Jan 15: Owing to their outlandish life style andweird behavioural traits, the Naga sadhus are drawing the maximumattention of pilgrims, including foreign tourists,attending the firstArdh Kumbh of the millennium.

The presence of Naga sadhus during the march to Shahi Snan(RoyalBathing) at Sangam today was the most eye catching thing for million ofpilgrims and kalpawasi, residing in the Mela area.

Even as they are part of almost every akhara but Joona akhara has the maximum number of Nagas in their fold.

Naga sadhus or Naga baba as they are commonly known have arousedlot of curiousity due to their appearance and bizzare activities.

Despite the mercury in single digit, they reamin stark naked withtheir unkempt knotty long hair and their bodies smeared with vibhuti(ash).

There was a time when the general public and the media could notdare to interact with them or take their photographs as they used toresist the presence of outsiders during the Shahi Snan. But now, theyhave become more tolerant and worldlywise.

Their abodes, whether they are in transit like at the ongoing ArdhKumbh Mela or the permanent hermitage known as Akharas from where theyare called as Akhara Sadhus.

These Akhara Sadhus, known for their unworldly ways like movingaround unclad, weird long hair tied over the head and above allpracticing or performing activities and rituals in the mostunconventional manner, enjoy life in their own style.

Naga Baba Toofangiri, performing Yogasanas astride a horse,attracted a huge crowd on the first day of Mela on January 3. OtherNagas also got themselves engaged in strange antics to attract people'sattention.

Life at an Akhara is a sharp contrast of colour and austerities.

One can find a Sadhu wearing 11,000 Rudraksha beads or piercinghis toungue or making a 'Sheershasan'- a Yoga excercise in which theperson stands upside down with head of the ground and feet upwards.BabaVishwanath Giri who wears 11,000 Rudraksh beads claims to have attainedthe lord Shiva form.

Some will say they have come from the Himalayas and survive on herbs only while some would say they eat once in a week.

Another common sight at the Akhara is that a large number of NagaSadhus smoking Chilum (known as pot among drug addicts) of bhang andthe narcotic marijuana apart from most unusual forms of rituals. Allthese they contend are the routes to attain Nirvana and realise theapex of spirituality.

Then these Nagas are seen in plenty only on such occasions likethe Ardh Kumbh Mela, congregation of millions of Hindus once in sixyears. The Hindus drawn from different parts of India and abroad aswell visit the Ardh Kumbh and the the presence of Naga babas is justanother manifestation of India's diversity.

UNI >