23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Ashes of devotion: A Naga monk .

A portrait of spiritual intensity.Covered in vibhuti(sacred ash),a Naga Sadhu-an ascetic monk-awaits the auspicious rituals and sacred dip at the Ganga Sagar Transit Campin Kokata,India.His powerful gaze and matted jata hair reflect a lifetime of rigorous devotion on the path where Ganga river meets the Bay of Bengl.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 01.2023
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Kolkata, India
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Copyright: © Barun Kumar Thakur