Naga Sadhu Procession during Khumbha Mela in Allahabad, India.
Despite the popularity of Maha-Shivaratri with most Sadhus, there is one festival that far surpasses it as far as popularity and turn-out--the great Khumbha Mela, a bathing festival held at the sites of Prayaga (Allahabad), Haridwar, Nasik, and Ujjain on a rotating basis every four years. At Prayag, where the Yamuna River joins the Ganga, that the largest number of human beings in history gathered-15 million on Februray 6, 1998. It is said that the nectar of immortality was spilled on these sites during an ancient battle between the gods and the demons. Therefore, millions of people descend on these sites to bathe at the auspicious moments, to socialize, and to celebrate. Here two Sadhus bathe in the foreground while lay people come from bathing in the background. The sadhus wear wooden chastity belts. Khumbha Mela, Allahabad
Shaivite sadhu drinks from his human skull bowl. A picture of Shiva can be seen behind him. Although the practice of taking all of one's food and drink from a human skull is rare nowadays, certain sadhus, particularly the Aghori sub-sect, still hold to it as a daily reminder of human mortality and as a challenge to transcend the duality of life and death. The Aghori subsect was founded by Brahma Giri, a disciple of Gorakhnath and are strict followers of Shiva. These ascetics remain naked and often wear a rosary made of bones around their neck and carry a human skull in the left hand and a bell in the right hand. Their sectarian tilaka, forehead mark denotes unity of the Hindu triad. Generally, they are recruited from the lower castes. Pashupatinath, Kathmandu, Nepal
