Just In Da Moment

Balbriggan Co.Dublin 5.02.26

These photos are from Prayagraj Maha Kumbh Mela 2025. If you don’t know what Kumbh Mela is, go check my last post—no excuses! 😜 Part 2

On January 16th, the day after the big bathing days (14th & 15th), I somehow pulled myself out of bed at 6:00 AM and walked straight to the Sangam River—before sunrise. And wow, it was freezing! I had a thermal jumper, a jacket, and still felt like an ice cube. The air was damp, foggy, and so cold that even my camera was shivering (or maybe that was just me).

The morning was eerily quiet. Sadhus were still asleep in their tents and sheds, wrapped in blankets, while a few early risers were already heading toward the holy waters. Meanwhile, I was out there, shivering but determined to capture portraits. Hope you enjoy them—I definitely earned a cup of chai after this! 😆📸

Meet Cabillia – The Tamil Transgender Aghori of Varanasi!

This is Cabillia, a 29-year-old transgender (or as they say in India, Hijra). In South Asia, Hijra refers to a third-gender community with a deep cultural and spiritual history. They have been part of Indian society for centuries, often living in close-knit groups, giving blessings, and holding a special place in religious and social traditions.

Cabillia calls herself a Sketra Sanyasin—a wandering renunciant devoted to Lord Shiva. And not just any devotee—she's fully living the Aghori way of life.

Who are the Aghori?
The Aghori are one of the most intense and misunderstood sects of Shaivism. They believe in total renunciation, seeing no difference between life and death, purity and impurity. Many live in cremation grounds, covered in ashes, meditating on the impermanence of life. They reject social norms, believing that everything is a manifestation of Shiva, and sometimes engage in extreme rituals to break attachments to the material world.

Cabillia has been living in Varanasi, in the small stone hut you see in the pictures. She owns very little but says, “I have everything; Lord Shiva provides me with everything.” Her chains and locks around her ankles symbolize her devotion to Shiva—she considers herself bound to him in complete surrender.

Despite her ascetic life, she has a strong academic background—she completed a double bachelor's in Life Sciences and Pharmacy in 2019. Instead of a career in science, she chose the path of renunciation, seeking spiritual truth beyond the material world.

If you ever meet her in Varanasi, she may share words of wisdom, speak of Lord Shiva, or simply sit in deep meditation—fully immersed in her spiritual journey.

🔱 Har Har Mahadev! 🔱