Simhastha Kumbh: Sadhus are the main crowd-pullers here

Ujjain: saints and sadhus are the main attraction at Simhastha Kumbh.

Ashutosh Tripathi, the newztrack.com photojournalist has captured some of the most stunning moments in the quaint backdrops of the ongoing Kumbh festival on the banks of Kshipra river.

The Sadhus at the Kumbh Mela

The sadhus and other holy men are an integral part of the Mela. Pilgrims who attend it come to see and listen to these men, in order to gain spiritual enlightenment.

There are various types of sadhus:

• Nagas -- naked sadhus who smear their bodies with ash and have long matted hair. Constant exposure to the weather makes them resistant to high temperatures . Their eyes are bloodshot from constantly smoking charas(marijuana), which they believe aids to spiritual attainment.

• Urdhwavahurs -- who have emaciated bodies from rigid spiritual practices.

• Parivajakas -- who have taken a vow of silence.

• Shirshasinse-- who remain standing, sleep with their heads resting on a vertical pole, and meditate standing on their heads.

• Kalpvasis -- who remain by the river banks and devote their time to meditating, performing rituals, and bathing numerous times a day.