India, Feb. 3 -- Nearly 300 sadhus surrounded themselves with burning cow dung cakes in various formations-circles, semi-circles, and triangles-as they began their four-month-long 'Dhuni Puja' at Khak Chowk in Mahakumbh Nagar tent city on Basant Panchami. The ritual, undertaken by Mahatyagis-ascetic followers of Lord Ram-marked the beginning of an 18-year-long spiritual practice aimed at salvation and world peace.

The puja, which started at noon on Monday, saw the sadhus sitting under the sun, inhaling smoke from the burning cow dung cakes for three to four hours while chanting mantras-some balanced pots filled with burning cow dung cakes on their heads as part of the rigorous practice.

This ancient ritual, initiated only on Basant Panc...