Group of Jangam Gurus with ceremonial turban, at the Kumbh Mela 2013 festival near Allahabad (India).

This was the morning of Kumbh Maha Snan or main bathing day, also called Mauni Amavasya, which is the the most auspicious morning for taking the holy bath in the Ganges river.

Kumbh Mela is the largest festival on Earth, taking place once every 12 years, with more than 50 million Hindu pilgrims gathering to pray and bathe in the holy Ganges river.

The Jangam priests wear a very distinctive turban with a metal Naga snake and a plume-like or peacock feather on the top, which is a symbol of Vidya[gyan]. Vidya is a Sanskrit word that means “knowledge,” “clarity” or “higher learning.”

The Jangam or Jangamaru are a Shaiva order of religious monks. They are the priests or gurus of the Hindu Shaiva sect. Jangamas are also gurus of Veerashaiva sect. Jangamas are disciples of Lord Shiva as mentioned in Basava Puranas.

Jangams are very popular in Old Punjab. They are a non-Brahman Shaivite Order. Jangama is derived from the movable emblem of Lord Shiva. The meaning of word Jangam is 'moving linga' and considered superior to 'sthira linga'.

Regarding their birth the common myth is that they were born on their own out of the loins of Shiva. They are living in Haryana particularly in and around Kurukshetra. Earlier Punjab and Haryana had no division. Kurukshetra was the main center of Pasupati Shivaism.

More info about the Jangam Shaiva order:

- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jangam

- Jangams- The Religious Folk Singers of Old Punjab

For more photos and info about the Kumbh Mela festival, read the album description.