Ash-smeared bodies, dreadlocked hair and saffron drape – amidst the sea of devotees at the Maha Kumbh Mela, they blend in and yet stand out.
They are the women Naga Sadhus who weave an ancient story into India’s spiritual tapestry. While their male counterparts often steal the spotlight, especially during religious events like the Kumbh Mela, women Naga Sadhus don’t draw as much attention. However, visuals of these women are piquing curiosity during the ongoing Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj as they make their presence felt. So, who are these women Naga Sadhus and how do they get transformed?
The Transformation Process
The journey of a woman Naga Sadhu is not one of simple devotion, but of profound transformation – a shedding of the material world as well as the very self. Before she turns an ascetic, she is someone else – a woman, a wife, a mother, a daughter. But she leaves behind the comfort and joy of home and earth to devote herself entirely to Shiva.
The initiation process for women Naga Sadhus is as rigorous as it is for their male counterparts. They must exhibit unwavering dedication to their gurus and endure intense spiritual trials and training before being accepted into the sacred fold.
The first step on this path begins with the shedding of the self—the peeling away of ego, desires, and identity.
Women Naga Sadhus undergo strict celibacy for six to twelve years before initiation and many of them retreat to remote caves, forests, or mountains. They live within akharas, following strict rituals, but unlike their male counterparts, they wear an unstitched saffron cloth called “Ganti” and are marked by dreadlocks and a tilak on their foreheads. As part of their renunciation, they perform their own ‘Pind Daan’—a ritual symbolising the death of their old life and their rebirth as ascetics.
Lesser Known Facts About Women Naga Sadhus
What Do They Eat? Naga sadhus eat roots, fruits, herbs, fruits and many kinds of leaves. Similarly, women Nagas also have to eat the same.
Where Do They Live At Kumbh? There is a separate arrangement for women ascetics in the Akharas. However, the women Naga Sadhu goes to take a bath after the male Naga Sadhu.
What Are They Called? In the Akhara, Naga sadhvis are called by the nicknames Mai, Avdhutani or Naagin.
What Do They Wear? Unlike their male counterparts, the women Naga Sadhus wear a “Ganti” (unstitched saffron cloth) attire. They also wear a tilak and dreadlocks.
Thousands of Naga Sanyasis To Be Made
The international spokesperson of Juna Akhara, Srimahant Narayan Giri, said that about 5,000 new Naga Sanyasis will be made in Juna Akhara. Around 4,500 new Naga Sanyasis are going to be made Nagas in Niranjani Akhara. A thousand in Avahan Akhara, 300 in Mahanirvani Akhara, 400 in Anand Akhara and 200 in Atal Akhara are also in line to be made Naga Sadhus, TOI reported.
Naga Sadhus At Maha Kumbh 2025
This year, the Kumbh Mela – being held at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers – holds even more significance as it is taking place after 144 years, due to a rare alignment of planets. A Poorna Kumbh occurs every 12 years. The Maha Kumbh is a form of Poorna Kumbh which is held once in 144 years. In a rare occurrence, the Moon, Sun, Mercury and Jupiter align together, making the Maha Kumbh the most auspicious Kumbh Mela and a once in a lifetime experience.
Saints, sadhus, spiritual leaders and celebrities are attending humanity’s biggest gathering. Among them are the women Naga Sadhus who have devoted their lives to spiritual enlightenment.
It is believed that Naga Sadhus remain immersed in their yogic and spiritual practices throughout the year and appear in public only during the Kumbh. They attend all the Kumbhs across four centres: Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nasik. Videos of these Naga Sadhus dancing to the beats of drums and showcasing the verve of the rituals at the Maha Kumbh have been going viral.
Their unique style stood out even during the Shahi Snan as they entered the icy waters of the Triveni Sangam with immense zeal, splashing water on each other in mystical ecstasy.
Much like their male counterparts, women Naga Sadhus represent unwavering faith, devotion and dedication and are seen as the living embodiment of all that Kumbh Mela represents—the merging of the mortal and divine and the journey into the unknown.