Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Maha Kumbh: Over 100 women take first steps as Naga ascetics

sadhvi-kubh-reuters

A Sadhvi or a Hindu holy woman reacts as she takes a holy dip during the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj on January 14. (Photo: Reuters)

AT THE Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh, the process of initiating over 100 women as ‘Naga Sanyasinis’ of Juna Akhada began on Sunday.

Naga Sanyasinis are female ascetics belonging to the Naga sect, a prominent and ancient monastic order within the broader Hindu tradition.


The term "Naga" is derived from the Sanskrit word for "naked," symbolising renunciation of material possessions and worldly attachments.

Divya Giri, a saint at Shri Panch Dashnam Juna Akhada, said that 102 women received the ‘Naga Diksha’ in the first phase of the registration process.

These women were granted the title of ‘Avdhutani’ after completing 12 years of service under their guru.

Following tradition, the women, dressed in 2.75-metre unstitched clothes, arrived at the banks of the Ganga, where their heads were shaved. They then took a holy dip in the river and were given a water pot (Kamandal), Ganga ‘jal’, and a staff.

The final phase of the initiation will be performed by Swami Avadheshanand Giri, the Acharya Mahamandaleshwar of Juna Akhada.
Three foreigners were also initiated as Naga Sanyasinis and became members of Shri Panch Dashnam Juna Akhada.

Among them, Italy’s Bankiya Mariam was renamed Shivani Bharti, Bequeven Marie from France was renamed Kamakhya Giri, and Nepal’s Mokshita Rai took the name Mokshita Giri after their initiation.

The Maha Kumbh, a six-week-long Hindu festival, has drawn millions of people to Prayagraj.

Each morning, crowds gather along the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers for ritual bathing. Organisers expect around 400 million visitors to attend the festival, which concludes on February 26.

Held every three years in four cities on the banks of sacred rivers, the Kumbh Mela rotates among Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik, and Ujjain. The Maha Kumbh is held every 12 years, attracting the largest number of devotees due to its auspicious timing.

Hindus believe that immersing in the sacred rivers during the Kumbh Mela absolves sins and offers liberation from the cycle of life and death.

The festival’s origins trace back to the Rigveda and the legend of ‘Sagar Manthan,’ where drops of nectar from a divine pitcher fell at the four locations.

The event is a blend of religious devotion and cultural spectacle, with ascetics and devotees from various Hindu sects participating in rituals, including the ‘Shahi Snaan’ or royal bath.

(With inputs from agencies)

More For You

Sri Lanka forms committee to address UK sanctions
Anura Kumara Dissanayake

Sri Lanka forms committee to address UK sanctions

THE Sri Lanka government on Wednesday (2) formed a committee to recommend measures regarding the UK's decision to impose sanctions on three former military commanders who led the campaign that crushed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009.

Health minister Nalinda Jayatissa told reporters that foreign minister Vijitha Herath, justice minister Harshana Nanayakkara and deputy minister of defence Aruna Jayasekara would comprise the committee that would consult experts for the purpose.

Keep ReadingShow less
Gujarat-blast-ANI

The blast caused the factory’s concrete roof to collapse, scattering debris and body parts across the area, officials confirmed. (Photo: ANI)

ANI

Death toll rises to 21 in Gujarat firework factory explosion

AN EXPLOSION at an illegal firecracker factory in Gujarat's Deesa town killed 21 people and injured several others on Tuesday, officials said.

The blast caused the factory’s concrete roof to collapse, scattering debris and body parts across the area, officials confirmed.

Keep ReadingShow less
Child benefit payments set to rise for UK families

Child benefit, normally paid every four weeks directly into bank accounts, has undergone significant changes in recent months (Photo: Getty Images)

Child benefit payments set to rise for UK families

MILLIONS of British families are set to receive a financial boost as child benefit payments increase from April 7, according to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

From next week, parents will receive £26.05 per week for the eldest or only child, amounting to £1,354.60 annually - up from the current rate of £25.60. For each additional child, payments will rise to £17.25 weekly, totalling £897 per year - an increase from the present £16.95 rate. This represents a 1.7 per cent increase across all payment categories.

Keep ReadingShow less
Anant Ambani Walks 140 Km in Spiritual Tribute on 30th Birthday

Anant’s padyatra is a reflection of the larger cultural fabric of India

Getty

Anant Ambani embarks on a 140-kilometer spiritual journey on foot to celebrate 30th birthday

Anant Ambani, a director of Reliance Industries Limited and a prominent figure in Indian industry, has chosen a unique and spiritual way to mark his 30th birthday. As part of his celebrations, he is currently undertaking a padyatra—a traditional pilgrimage on foot—from Jamnagar to Dwarka, covering a distance of approximately 140 kilometres. The journey reflects his devotion to Lord Dwarkadhish, the presiding deity of the Dwarkadhish Temple in the city of Dwarka.

Anant began his journey from his family’s residence in Moti Khavdi, Jamnagar, and has been progressing steadily for the past five days. Walking an estimated 10-12 kilometres each night, he travels under the protection of Z+ security and local police, ensuring his safety during this significant journey. The padyatra is expected to take between seven to nine days in total, with plans to conclude at the Dwarkadhish Temple in time for his birthday on April 10.

Keep ReadingShow less
New TB action plan proposed as cases surge

Government urged experts to come forward to help draw up a new five-year TB action plan. (Photo: Getty Images)

New TB action plan proposed as cases surge

BRITAIN on Wednesday (2) urged health experts and sufferers of tuberculosis (TB) to come forward to help draw up a new five-year action plan as it deals with record rises in the disease.

In 2023, England recorded its largest annual increase (11 per cent) in cases since enhanced surveillance began in 2000.

Keep ReadingShow less