In India, which is entrenched in patriarchy, even Kumbh Mela, which many see as a great leveller, is a manifestation of male domination of Hindu power. From bare-bodied sadhus to those who embrace complete nakedness, it is the men who take centre stage, leading religious processions and rituals. The akhadas, seen as custodians of the Kumbh Mela, carry a legacy rooted in violence and war. It is believed that Naga ascetics defeated Aurangzeb's army in Haridwar in 1666, repelled Ahmad Shah Abdali in Mathura in 1757, liberated villages under Rajendragiri in Jhansi from 1751 to 1753, laid the groundwork for the 1857 rebellion in Haridwar in 1855, and defended Hindus at the Sindh border. In 2019, came the addition of the Kinnar Akhara, comprising trans and intersex people and hijras. Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, who formed the Kinnar Akhara in 2015, was the first transgender person to represent Asia-Pacific at the UN in 2008. She is an activist, an actress, a Bharatanatyam dancer, and a choreographer. Unlike other akhadas, which are only open to Hindu men, the Kinnar Akhara welcomes all genders and sexualities. As efforts like these attempt to carve out a more inclusive space, the question remains: Can Kumbh Mela evolve into more than an exhibition of masculine energy through ascetic orders?
Reporter/Script: Rani Jana
Editor: Sudhanshu Pandey
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