The Mystic World of Naga Sadhus and Their 17 'Shringar'

Their ash-covered bodies and long locks make Naga Sadhus look different.

- K Sandeep Kumar

MAHAKUMBH NAGAR: Their ash-covered bodies and long locks make Naga Sadhus look different.

To most, they may not exactly exude charm, but they spend hours on their 17 'shringar'-unlike the 16 traditional adornments (16 shringar) performed by married women in Hindu culture-before each bathing festival as they did on Monday night ahead of the first Amrit Snan on the occasion of Makar Sankranti on Tuesday.

In addition to 16 shringar done by a married woman in Hindu culture, 17th is of the ash or bhaboot with which Naga Sadhus smear their body.

The night preceding the Amrit Snan (previously called Shahi Snan), Naga Sadhus begin the 'spiritual and physical' shringar, which starts with cleansing rituals and concludes with smearing the entire body with ash. The whole process takes 7-8 hours.

Each Naga Sadhu keeps awake the whole night, first praying to Shiva and the deity of his Akhada to purify his soul, and then begins readying himself more carefully than, say, a woman for Karva Chauth, share sadhus.

If a woman dresses up to look attractive, a Naga Sadhu adorns himself to look suitable for a union with the divine Ganga.