Photographer captures naked worshippers at Indian holy festival

In March 2016, photographer Siddharth Kaneria ventured to the ancient Indian city of Junagadh to capture the men worshipping Lord Shiva at the Maha Shivaratri festival.

The festival falls on the thirteenth and fourteenth days of the Hindu calendar month Phalguna.

Many Hindus believe that worshipping Lord Shiva on the auspicious day will cleanse them of all their sins.

Naga Sadhu men are usually very secluded, but the celebration draws them out to pay their respect to the Lord Shiva, who is one of the three main Hindu deities.

India-based photographer Siddharth said: “The annual festival lures the Nagas out of their hiding places and into the public eye.

“The festival’s climax comes at the final midnight, when the procession of Naga Sadhu men takes place.

“The Sadhus celebrate by dancing and charging into the sacred waters to bathe.

“It is said that some of those that go in will never come out, instead being absorbed directly into “moksha” - the heaven of liberation from the cycle of birth and death in this world.”

The deities are responsible for the creation, upkeep and destruction of the universe, Lord Shiva’s role is believed to be the destruction of the universe in order to recreate it.

The holy men can be easily identified by their long beards, heavy dreadlocks and ash-smeared, naked bodies.

Kaneria said: “The hardcore Hindu holy men known as the Naga/Nude Sadhus are the stars of the show.

“They are practically nude. They believe that the whole world is their home and the sky is like a cover so they do not need clothes to cover their bodies, because they are sky-dressed.

“They have accepted nakedness as part of their way of life.”

Nude Sadhus openly smoke marijuana during the festival, because they believe that Lord Shiva is fond of the drug.

Siddharth also explained the men perform holy tricks, including tying sticks through their penises and using them to lift up rocks.

During the festival, around 150,000 people came to Junagadh to visit the Bhavnath Mahadev Temple and to get blessings from the Naga Sadhu men.

Women are also involved in the celebrations and fast during the festival to appease the Goddess Parvati - Lord Shiva’s wife.

The thirty-five-year-old photographer found it difficult to understand the contradictory treatment of women during the festival.

He said: “It made me think that on one side of Indian society they enforce a ritual of Lajja - because of shame they are asked to cover their heads.

“But on the other side they don’t mind the women interacting with nude Sadhus.”

Siddharth was drawn to the festival because it was a rare opportunity to see the Naga Sadhu men out in the world.

He added: “Experiencing cultures, meeting people from other communities, from my own country, India, or other countries fascinates me.

“The chance to experience unknown people, places and moments is what inspires me too visit unknown places all over the globe.”