Bhasmang – Exhibition of portraits from the Kumbh Melas

Bhasmang presents a striking series of portraits from the Kumbh Melas of 2019 and 2025. Through extended stays at the Kumbh Mela Akharas, Bandeep attained rare and intimate access to the lives of the Naga Sadhus- their material culture and personalities. The photographs depict Naga Sadhus posing and performing in studio light, painstakingly set up within their tents.

Bandeep Singh has long been drawn to photograph subjects related to mysticism and spirituality, particularly seekers on the path of the divine. This year marks the 7th anniversary of his documentation of the Naga Sadhus. While the subject remains the same, modern technology and social media have reshaped the Kumbh Mela. Bandeep’s recent work gives an unusual peek into the life of the Naga Sadhus, who exist at the intersection of asceticism and the modern spectacle. The exhibition explores the duality between a photographer, driven by technology and the urge to capture the fleeting, and an ascetic, who renounces material attachments in pursuit of devotion. This tension between observer and observed lies at the heart of the exhibition, offering a deeper reflection on asceticism, identity, and artistic interpretation.

Every twelve years, the Maha Kumbh Mela emerges as a powerful vortex of humanity at the sacred Sangam in Prayag Raj. Millions are immersed in ancient traditions, seeking spiritual renewal. In the colour-soaked chaos, few figures capture the imagination as profoundly as the Naga Sadhus. Draped in Bhasma (ash) with their naked bodies exposed as a canvas of ritual devotion – these ascetics appear as both mystical and surreal. They represent an ancient commitment to renunciation and enlightenment, and their lives are a vivid testament to the quest for liberation from worldly ties.

Despite being the most photographed subjects at the Kumbh Mela, the Naga Sadhus remain intensely reclusive, often dismissing curiosity with brusque indifference. Their visual representation in media is striking, but largely limited to images of ‘boisterous ascetics’ in processions or dipping in the holy rivers during the ritualistic baths. However, beyond these dramatic depictions lies a deeper, more enigmatic existence that can only be uncovered through intimate observations very few outsiders have had the privilege of attaining.

What began as an artistic documentation of their appearance and rituals gradually transformed into a revelation of the Naga Sadhus’ spiritual intensity and ecstasy. The bond of trust formed with the photographer allowed them to drop their resistance to the external gaze, performing uninhibitedly for the camera. Shot within tents inside their Akharas using carefully crafted lighting setups, the photographs provide a stark yet intimate insight into their personalities and material culture.