Photos: Becoming a “naked holy man” at the Maha Kumbh Festival in India

Posted Feb 19, 2013

Head and face shaving as part of an initiation ritual to become a Naga Sadhu, or naked holy man, at the Maha Kumbh Festival at Sangam, the confluence of the holy rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, in Allahabad, India. The initiation of new Naga Sadhus can only be performed at the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, which occurs once every 12 years and sees millions of devotees converging on the northern Indian city.(AP)

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In this combination of two photos taken Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013, Hindu holy man Baba Sanjay poses before, left, and after, right, he had his head and face shaved as part of an initiation ritual where he was to become a Naga Sadhu, or naked holy man, at the Maha Kumbh Festival at Sangam, the confluence of the holy rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, in Allahabad, India. The initiation of new Naga Sadhus can only be performed at the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, which occurs once every 12 years and sees millions of devotees converging on the northern Indian city. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
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In this combination of two photos taken Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013, Hindu holy man Baba Ramshwal poses before, left, and after, right, he had his head and face shaved as part of an initiation ritual where he was to become a Naga Sadhu, or naked holy man, at the Maha Kumbh Festival at Sangam, the confluence of the holy rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, in Allahabad, India. The initiation of new Naga Sadhus can only be performed at the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, which occurs once every 12 years and sees millions of devotees converging on the northern Indian city. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
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In this combination of two photos taken Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013, Hindu holy man Baba Giri poses before, left, and after, right, he had his head and face shaved as part of an initiation ritual where he was to become a Naga Sadhu, or naked holy man, at the Maha Kumbh Festival at Sangam, the confluence of the holy rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, in Allahabad, India. The initiation of new Naga Sadhus can only be performed at the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, which occurs once every twelve years and sees millions of devotees converging on the northern Indian city. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
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In this combination of two photos taken Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013, Hindu holy man Baba Vinod poses before, left, and after, right, he had his head and face shaved as part of an initiation ritual where he was to become Naga Sadhu, or naked holy man, at the Maha Kumbh Festival at Sangam, the confluence of the holy rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, in Allahabad, India. The initiation of new Naga Sadhus can only be performed at the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, which occurs once every 12 years and sees millions of devotees converging on the northern Indian city. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
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In this combination of two photos taken Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013, Hindu holy man Brihaspst Giri poses before, left, and after, right, he had his head and face shaved as part of an initiation ritual where he was to become a Naga Sadhu, or naked holy man, at the Maha Kumbh Festival at Sangam, the confluence of the holy rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, in Allahabad, India. The initiation of new Naga Sadhus can only be performed at the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, which occurs once every 12 years and sees millions of devotees converging on the northern Indian city. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
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In this combination of ten photos taken Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013, Hindu holy men are seen before, top, and after , bottom, they had their heads and faces shaved as part of an initiation ritual where they were to become Naga Sadhus, or naked holy men, at the Maha Kumbh Festival at Sangam, the confluence of the holy rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, in Allahabad, India. The initiation of new Naga Sadhus can only be performed at the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, which occurs once every twelve years and sees millions of devotees converging on the northern Indian city. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
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A naked Hindu holy man eats at a community feast at Sangam, the confluence of the Rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, during Maha Kumbh festival, in Allahabad, India , Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. Millions of Hindu pilgrims have been attending the Maha Kumbh festival, which is one of the world's largest religious gatherings that lasts 55 days and falls every 12 years. (AP Photo/ Rajesh Kumar Singh)
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Hindu pilgrims leave for their homes in a truck at Sangam, the confluence of the Rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, during Maha Kumbh festival, in Allahabad, India , Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. Millions of Hindu pilgrims have been attending the Maha Kumbh festival, which is one of the world's largest religious gatherings that lasts 55 days and falls every 12 years. (AP Photo/ Rajesh Kumar Singh)
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A Hindu holy woman gets a massage from a foreign disciple at Sangam, the confluence of the Rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, during Maha Kumbh festival, in Allahabad, India , Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. Millions of Hindu pilgrims have been attending the Maha Kumbh festival, which is one of the world's largest religious gatherings that lasts 55 days and falls every 12 years. (AP Photo/ Rajesh Kumar Singh)
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Two elderly Hindu holy women travel in a cycle rickshaw used for transporting goods at Sangam, the confluence of the Rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, during Maha Kumbh festival, in Allahabad, India , Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. Millions of Hindu pilgrims have been attending the Maha Kumbh festival, which is one of the world's largest religious gatherings that lasts 55 days and falls every 12 years. (AP Photo/ Rajesh Kumar Singh)
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Hindu devotees walk on a bridge as it rains at Sangam, the confluence of the Rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, during Maha Kumbh festival, in Allahabad, India , Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013. Heavy rainfall since Friday has created chaos around the Sangam, where millions of Hindu pilgrims have been attending the Maha Kumbh festival, which is one of the world's largest religious gatherings that lasts 55 days and falls every 12 years.(AP Photo/ Rajesh Kumar Singh)
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Sludge covers the tent area after rainfall at Sangam, the confluence of the Rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, during Maha Kumbh festival, in Allahabad, India , Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013. Heavy rainfall since Friday has created chaos around the Sangam, where millions of Hindu pilgrims have been attending the Maha Kumbh festival, which is one of the world's largest religious gatherings that lasts 55 days and falls every 12 years.(AP Photo/ Rajesh Kumar Singh)
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An indian Naga Sadhu, or Hindu naked holy man, prepares tea inside his tent at Sangam, the confluence of the Rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, during Maha Kumbh festival, in Allahabad, India, Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013. The significance of nakedness is that they will not have any worldly ties to material belongings, even something as simple as clothes. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
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Hindu devotees walk in the rain at Sangam, the confluence of the Rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, during Maha Kumbh festival, in Allahabad, India, Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013. Heavy rainfall since Friday has created chaos around the Sangam, where millions of Hindu pilgrims have been attending the Maha Kumbh festival, which is one of the world's largest religious gatherings that lasts 55 days and falls every 12 years. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
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Sludge covers the tent area after rainfall at Sangam, the confluence of the Rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, during Maha Kumbh festival, in Allahabad, India , Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013. Heavy rainfall since Friday has created chaos around the Sangam, where millions of Hindu pilgrims have been attending the Maha Kumbh festival, which is one of the world's largest religious gatherings that lasts 55 days and falls every 12 years. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
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Hindu devotees walk through a sludge-filled area at Sangam, the confluence of the Rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, during Maha Kumbh festival, in Allahabad, India , Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013. Heavy rainfall since Friday has created chaos around the Sangam, where millions of Hindu pilgrims have been attending the Maha Kumbh festival, which is one of the world's largest religious gatherings that lasts 55 days and falls every 12 years. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
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A Hindu devotee wheels himself back towards his tent through a slush-filled area at Sangam, the confluence of the Rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, during Maha Kumbh festival, in Allahabad, India , Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013. Heavy rainfall since Friday has created chaos around the Sangam, where millions of Hindu pilgrims have been attending the Maha Kumbh festival, which is one of the world's largest religious gatherings that lasts 55 days and falls every 12 years.(AP Photo/ Rajesh Kumar Singh)
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Hindu devotees take shelter as it rains at Sangam, the confluence of the Rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, during Maha Kumbh festival, in Allahabad, India , Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013. Heavy rainfall since Friday has created chaos around the Sangam, where millions of Hindu pilgrims have been attending the Maha Kumbh festival, which is one of the world's largest religious gatherings that lasts 55 days and falls every 12 years.(AP Photo/ Rajesh Kumar Singh)
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Hindu devotees shield themselves as it rains at Sangam, the confluence of the Rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, during Maha Kumbh festival, in Allahabad, India , Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013. Heavy rainfall since Friday has created chaos around the Sangam, where millions of Hindu pilgrims have been attending the Maha Kumbh festival, which is one of the world's largest religious gatherings that lasts 55 days and falls every 12 years.(AP Photo/ Rajesh Kumar Singh)
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A Hindu devotee removing his belongings from a flooded tent as it rains at Sangam, the confluence of the Rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, during Maha Kumbh festival, in Allahabad, India , Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013. Heavy rainfall since Friday has created chaos around the Sangam, where millions of Hindu pilgrims have been attending the Maha Kumbh festival, which is one of the world's largest religious gatherings that lasts 55 days and falls every 12 years.(AP Photo/ Rajesh Kumar Singh)
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Hindu holy men of Niranjani akhada or sect prepare to leave for Varanasi at Sangam, the confluence of the Rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, during Maha Kumbh festival, in Allahabad, India , Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. Millions of Hindu pilgrims have been attending the Maha Kumbh festival, which is one of the world's largest religious gatherings that lasts 55 days and falls every 12 years. (AP Photo/ Rajesh Kumar Singh)
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Hindu holy men of Niranjani akhada or sect pose for photographs as they prepare to leave for Varanasi at Sangam, the confluence of the Rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, during Maha Kumbh festival, in Allahabad, India , Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. Millions of Hindu pilgrims have been attending the Maha Kumbh festival, which is one of the world's largest religious gatherings that lasts 55 days and falls every 12 years. (AP Photo/ Rajesh Kumar Singh)
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Hindu holy men of Niranjani akhada or sect shout religious slogans as they prepare to leave for Varanasi at Sangam, the confluence of the Rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, during Maha Kumbh festival, in Allahabad, India , Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. Millions of Hindu pilgrims have been attending the Maha Kumbh festival, which is one of the world's largest religious gatherings that lasts 55 days and falls every 12 years. (AP Photo/ Rajesh Kumar Singh)