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 i