The 13 Akhadas of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela
The organised groups of sadhus who take part in the Kumbh Mela are called akhadas. In its original sense, an akhada is a place for practising wrestling and the art of weapons, but in the context of sadhus and sannyasis its meaning has become a centre of spiritual practice, learning and the protection of dharma. The thirteen akhadas recognised by the Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad take part in the Shahi (now Amrit) Snan of the Kumbh and the Simhastha. The order and timings of their bathing are decided jointly by the Akhada Parishad and the administration.
Of these thirteen akhadas, ten akhadas are Shaiva; they belong to the tradition of the Dashanami sannyasis and worship Lord Shiva and the deities connected with Shiva. Three akhadas are Vaishnava or Bairagi, and they are connected with Vishnu, especially Shri Ram and Hanuman.
Flags: General Information
In the Simhastha, an akhada’s dharma flag is regarded as its very identity, prestige and pride. The flag is a symbol of dharma, of the akhada’s supremacy and of its chosen deity (Ishtadev). According to the information given, all thirteen akhadas raise their flags on poles of eucalyptus wood about fifty-two haat (cubits) high. Of the thirteen akhadas, ten are Shaiva and three are Vaishnava. The flags of the Shaiva akhadas are mainly saffron in colour; among the Vaishnavas, out of five colours, colours such as red, white and golden are seen, while in the flags of the Udasin akhadas the colours red, peacock feather and yellow/basanti are found. It is generally believed that the Udasin flags are dedicated to Hanumanji and the Panchdev.