Sadhus are holy men who live a life of spirituality and self-discipline. They dedicate their lives to achieving liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth.

Sadhus gathered at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal.

I first became fascinated by Hindu holy men on a trip to Kathmandu in 2015. It was the time of the Maha Shivaratri Festival, which is held annually in honor of Lord Shiva, and many Sadhus from India and Nepal had made a pilgrimage to worship at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, one of the four most important religious sites in Asia for devotees of Shiva. In Hinduism, Sadhus, or Babas as they are often known, dedicate their lives to achieving moksha - a liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth. Leading a life of spirituality and self-discipline, they leave their families, renounce all worldly goods and rely on charity to survive. With their saffron robes, painted faces and dreadlocks they make captivating subjects to document, but they are highly respected by Hindus and given food in return for their blessings and prayers. 

It should be noted, though, that in popular tourist destinations there are those who will don the guise of a Sadhu in order to fleece visitors. Although Hindu ascetics may be broadly categorised into two groups – Shaiva who are devotees of Lord Shiva and Vaishnava who follow Vishnu - there are many subgroups. By far one of the most fascinating is the naked Naga Sadhus who instead of wearing clothes, smear their bodies with ash. They mostly reside in remote mountain areas or in monasteries called ashrams and are rarely seen. 

In 2019 I was fortunate enough to be in Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad) for the Kumbh Mela – the world’s largest religious pilgrimage and bathing festival which is only held once every 12 years. The festival is one of the few opportunities to see the reclusive Naga Sadhus where they, and millions of the faithful, congregate to bathe in holy waters to provide atonement for past mistakes and cleanse themselves of their sins. I spent two weeks at this amazing festival wandering around the Sadhus’ camping grounds being blessed, given “mystical” powders to sprinkle on my body and photographing, of course, these intriguing ascetics.

Two Sadhus at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal.

A Sadhu wearing an incredible beaded headpiece at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Not all Sadhus are legitimate holy men; some dress in colorful costumes to make money from visitors.

Sadhu photographed beside the holy Pushkar Lake.

An ascetic who lives in a tiny hut by Pushkar Lake.

A Sadhu holding a trident or trishula, commonly known as the weapon of Shiva.  Photographed in Varanasi, India.

An ascetic holy man known as the “Monkey Baba of Varanasi.”

A Naga Sadhu who has renounced the use of speech as a penitence breathes into the mouth of a dead chicken. Photographed in Varanasi, India.

Naga Sadhu smoking a chillum at the 2019 Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, India.

The penetrating gaze of a Naga Sadhu at the 2019 Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, India.

Naga Sadhu dressed in sacred rudraksha seeds at the 2019 Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, India.

Naga Sadhu at the 2019 Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, India.

Naga Sadhu at the 2019 Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, India.

An imposing Sadhu sits swathed in saffron robes at the 2019 Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, India.

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Carol is based in Queensland Australia and has always been drawn to street photography, searching out the most colourful and quirky characters in her own environment. After studying documentary photography at college, she travelled to Yunnan, China to photograph the wide diversity of ethnic minorities in the region. However, over the past five years, her focus has shifted to Nepal and India. As someone who has always been drawn to unique and different cultures, India’s rich heritage and local traditions make it a haven for her style of photography. Follow Carol on social media @carolfoote_photographer