A portrait of a Naga sadhu at the exhibition titled Bhasmang: The Way of the Naga Sadhus
| Photo Credit: Bandeep Singh
The Naga sadhus (unclothed Hindu ascetics) first caught photographer Bandeep Singh’s attention in 2013. Six years later, he found himself photographing them in a deliberate attempt to capture the core of their spiritual and religious ideology.
The ongoing exhibition titled Bhasmang: The Way of the Naga Sadhus at Travancore Palace, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi, displays 35 portraits of the Naga sadhus clicked by Bandeep from 2019 to 2025. “I had my first encounter with Naga sadhus on my maiden trip to the kumbh in 2013. There, one of the images that stuck with me was that of a Naga, surrounded by several people, having a conversation on his mobile phone. I was intrigued by how he was completely unmindful about his nudity, almost as if it didn’t exist. That kind of detachment from his body was interesting to me,” says Bandeep.
Photographer Bandeep Singh poses with a Naga sadhu
| Photo Credit:
Bandeep Singh
His curiosity led him to the Juna akhara at the kumbh in 2019. Akharas are monastic institutions, with facilities for billeting and training, in the context of Indian martial artistes or for religious renunciates. The Juna akhara is predominantly associated with Naga sadhus.
“Before the kumbh began, I was invited by one of the mahamandaleshwars of the Juna akhara to photograph the Naga sadhus and stay in the akhara. In fact, after photographing them at the kumbh, I followed them to their deras and ashrams in Rishikesh and Haridwar. While photographing them for six years I also interacted with them and learnt that Naga sadhus were actually warrior saints. There were astradhaaris (who are adept at using weapons) and shastradhaaris (who have the knowledge of scriptures),” Bandeep informs.
A Naga sadhu smoking a chillam
| Photo Credit:
Bandeep Singh
In his portraits, Bandeep pits his subjects against a pitch-black backdrop and uses strobe light instead of natural light. He captures the ash-covered bodies of the Naga sadhus and toys with shadows to hide their intimate body parts.
Bandeep says, “These are studied portraits, the ones in which subjects are formally posing for the camera. I use a Nikon DSLR D850 and Nikon Z8. I photographed Naga sadhus like one would photograph specimens in a lab setting. This controlled imagery was done by isolating elements of the Naga sadhus’ life, body language and material culture.”
Wearing bhasma for a Naga sadhu is not just an act of ritual adornment
| Photo Credit:
Bandeep Singh
One of the most interesting learnings, says Bandeep, was that of ash being revered as a deity by these ascetics. He shares, the central element that defines Naga sadhus from any other sadhu is the white ash that they cover themselves with; it is called bhasma or bhabhoot.
“Wearing bhasma for a Naga sadhu is not just an act of ritual adornment. It is deeply spiritual. At the time of initiation into the Naga fold, each ascetic has five gurus, one of whom is the bhasma guru — the one who first gives them the secret diksha of wearing the bhasma. The application of ash is a process. It is applied in one direction, accompanied by the chanting of mantras. Then, when the wet ash dries, it is reversed in another direction and there’s another set of mantras for that,” he adds.
Bandeep captures the ash-covered bodies of the Naga sadhus and toys with shadows to hide their intimate body parts
| Photo Credit:
Bandeep Singh
Naga sadhus have a reputation for being temperamental, there were times when they walked off in the middle of the shoot, recalls Bandeep. But their quick temper, he says, is a put-on device to keep any adoration at bay. “Any kind of adulation or respect, though subtle, is also seen as a trap of attachment. Naga sadhus view adoration or respect as an impediment in the cause of their pursuit of absolute renunciation,” he shares.
Naga sadhus view adoration or respect as an impediment in the cause of their pursuit of absolute renunciation
| Photo Credit:
Bandeep Singh
Bandeep is now compiling an illustrated book, which shares its title with the name of the exhibition, on Naga sadhus, which is touted to be released by the end of this year. He says, “For the pictures exhibited at this exhibition I didn’t want to spotlight nudity; I didn’t want people to be uncomfortable. However, I have been fascinated with the idea of the body in Indian cultural tradition. My previous exhibition, Antarghat, which was held nearly 14 years ago, is testament to that. Also, when one speaks of nudity in the spiritual context, it could be best understood through Naga sadhus. For them nudity is not an act of exhibitionism, there’s no message, revolt, or reaction; it is just a state of being.”
On display till March 2. Portraits, sized 2.5×4 feet and 4×8 inches, are priced upwards of ₹2 lakh approximately.
Published – February 27, 2025 05:19 pm IST
