Kumbh Mela Images: From Naga Baba To Shahi Snan

Looking for Kumbh Mela images? From Kumbh Mela naga baba photos to people taking shahi snan, this photoblog from 2021 Kumbh Mela has them all.

Hailed as the largest congregation of pilgrims in the entire world, the 2021 Kumbh Mela was held in Rishikesh. The earlier 2019 Kumbh Mela was held in the historic city of Prayagraj. And I was lucky to experience it and click some Naga Baba photos and pictures on the very first day.

I even attended the traditional ‘shahi snan’ at the Kumbh Mela and got exclusive pictures of Naga Baba photos taking the procession forward.

To be honest, it was quite an amazing experience. Before getting there, I wasn’t expecting what I saw. Though a certain confusion was certainly expected, there was more to it, than just the confusion.

From naked Kumbh Mela Naga Baba to regular people smeared in ash, every sight was just as colourful and complex as the ancient Hindu culture.

No wonder, if you want to experience the ancient Hindu culture and experience an overdose of it, there’s no better place than the Kumbh Mela. And 2021 Kumbh Mela was certainly a highlight. No Varanasi streets, no reading a Rishikesh blog can give you the kind of experience that visiting Kumbh Mela does.

Also Read: Upcoming 2025 Prayagraj Kumbh Mela Travel Guide

Here’s a picture story of the 2021 Kumbh Mela and some exclusive portraits of Kumbh Mela naga Baba:

2021 Kumbh Mela Images — From Naga Baba Photos To Shahi Snan Pictures

Throughout their life, these Naga sadhus (or Naga baba) hide in the Himalayas, away from civilization, meditating and practising the life of renunciation. During Kumbh, they come out of their little caves and gather in one place.

Kumbh Mela is a great avenue to meet these Naga babas and get their blessings.

Don’t mistake Naga baba for Aghori baba, however, as there’s a slight difference between the two. Where Aghoris are believed to only consume meat, Naga baba can be vegetarian. Also, unlike Aghoris, who have no teacher and just consider Lord Shiva as their superior in life, Naga baba has a guru in their respective Akhada.

Consider Naga baba as a more subtle version of Aghoris. However, in appearance, there’s almost no difference. Both wear no clothes and keep themselves covered in ash.

On the very first day of Kumbh Mela 2021, nearly 1.5 crore visitors turned up, wanting to take a dip in the holy Sangam with a belief to purify their deeds and attain moksha.

People woke up as early as 3 in the morning (including me) to get to the holy Sangam before sunrise, and take a dip as the sun came to the horizon. From women to children to Brahmacharis everyone was busy with their familiar rituals at the holy river of a Kumbh Mela. I clicked some great

Naga Baba photos. Check below more…

The first day of Kumbh Mela also saw mainstream media busy performing its work and live telecasting the entire procession of ‘shahi snan’. Media people were given a special entry, with the freedom of going close to Naga sadhus and other saints of higher hierarchy.

There were just as many cameras clicking Naga Baba pictures in the vicinity, as there were people.

Even sadhus were busy clicking selfies!

Kumbh Mela 2021 is expected to attract the biggest crowds in the history of Kumbh Melas, with global media covering the entire event.

To overcome the issue of cleanliness, over one lakh temporary toilets were built (despite most of them being non-functional and choking as I saw them) and hundreds and thousands of staff were hired to keep the ghats and premises clean.

Here are some more pictures of Kumbh Mela, other than the Naga Baba photo.

A temporary tent city was also set up at the Kumbh Mela to accommodate pilgrims and visitors. A camp is available for around 1000 Rupees per person per night in a dormitory of nearly 10 people in a tent. To be honest, such an arrangement will fall under the category of a very basic accommodation facility, with shared bathrooms and not-so-clean bedsheets.

There are, however, dedicated arrangements for high-class tourists too, including special tourist camps with luxury tents for “glamping.”

I happened to visit Kumbh Mela on a special day of Makar Sankranti ‘Shahi Snan’, hence I saw the unusual crowd of Naga Baba going for the procession of taking a dip in the Sangam. Usual days won’t have that.

To see something similar, visit Mauni Amavasya and Vasant Panchami. There are only three Shahi Snans during Kumbh Mela 2021. Besides, there are other spiritually auspicious bathing days – Paush Purnima, Magh Purnima, and Maha Shivratri.

Another religious congregation to attend while in India is the Char Dham Yatra.