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Akharas & Sadhus at the Nashik Kumbh Mela

Seeing the akharas and their sadhus in procession is, for many pilgrims, as significant as the bath itself. Here's who they are and why the bathing order matters.

What is an Akhara?

Akharas are organized orders of ascetics (sadhus) with roots traced back to the 8th-century reformer Adi Shankaracharya, who is credited with organizing wandering ascetics into structured orders to preserve scriptural knowledge and protect religious institutions. Today there are traditionally 13 recognized akharas, divided into three broad groups by the deity they follow.

The Three Groups

• Shaiva akharas — followers of Shiva, including the well-known Naga sadhus (ash-covered, often unclothed ascetics). These akharas bathe at Kushavarta Kund in Trimbakeshwar during the Nashik Kumbh.
• Vaishnava akharas — followers of Vishnu/Rama, known as Bairagis, focused on devotion and service. These bathe at Ramkund in Nashik city.
• Udasin akharas — a smaller group following a path of detachment, also associated with Ramkund in Nashik.

Alongside the formal akharas, the Nath yogi tradition (associated closely with Trimbakeshwar) and the Varkari devotional movement of Maharashtra (known for devotional singing and processions) add further color to the Mela, even though they aren't counted among the 13 akharas administratively.

Why Sadhus Bathe First

During Shahi Snan, the akharas bathe in a strict, centuries-old order before the general public is allowed in. Pilgrims traditionally believe the sadhus' presence and penance spiritually charge the water for everyone who bathes afterward — which is why the public bathing window only opens once the akhara processions at that ghat have concluded.

Watching the Shahi Juloos (Procession)

The akhara processions — elaborate, often pre-dawn marches toward the ghat with flags, chariots, and large groups of sadhus — are one of the most visually striking parts of the Kumbh. The public typically watches from behind barricades along the procession route rather than walking alongside it. If witnessing this is a priority for your visit, plan to arrive well before sunrise on a Shahi Snan date; see our Shahi Snan & Ghat Timings guide for the expected sequence of events.