Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh: Last week,  Thousands were inducted in the ancient order of the Naga sadhus in a mass initiation ceremony during the ongoing Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. The participants, who performed the pind-daan (an after-death ritual in Hinduism) by chopping off their hair and participating in the sacred fire ceremony, included engineers and management graduates. Naga seers, who are known to be vague as they shun public life and gather mostly during the Kumbh Mela, perform extreme austerity by pushing their bodies to the limit.

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As per Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP) the governing body of 14 Akharas or organisations which are based on different Hindu philosophies, that over 10,000 men and women were initiated and became Nagas in Kumbh 2019. Out of these, 1100 were initiated into Juna Akhara. Niranjini and Mahanivarni akharas also plan mass initiations this month. Jana Akhara informed that in each initiation ceremony, thousands were inducted into akharas. Any person can achieve vairagya or detachment and become a Naga irrespective of their caste, religion or colour. Many Christians and Muslims were too also inducted.

Meanwhile, Several lakh people had started arriving at the Kumbhnagar from Sunday for the second shahi snan or auspicious dip on 'Mauni Amavasya'. It is the most auspicious to take a dip on this day, as per Hindu Mythology.

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