One thousand sadhus will join the Naga sect at the Haridwar Kumbh on April 5, attaining the status after a three-year trial period.

They will discard their clothes to become one with nature and start carrying a dandi (stick) and kamandal (reliquary).

“Over 3,000 sadhus had applied to become Nagas but we have selected 1,000 after watching their behaviour closely for three years,” Sri Mahant Mahesh Puri, international secretary of the Sri Panch Dashnam Juna Akhara, told reporters in Haridwar on Wednesday.

Ordinary sadhus can be awarded the Naga status by their akharas (monasteries) only during a Kumbh, an occasion that occurs once in three years. Such anointment is one of the highlights of a Kumbh.

Each of the akharas in the country has its own Naga sadhus but only the Juna Akhara is anointing fresh Naga sadhus during this Kumbh, a month-long festival beginning in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, on Thursday.

“It’s mandatory to be a member of an akhara for three years before a sadhu qualifies to become a Naga sadhu. The considerations for selection include their health and approach towards their fellow men and women living in the akharas’ ashrams.”

Akharas have committees that watch the applicants secretly round the clock.

“During the three-year period, they are trained to use batons and swords. Attaining perfection in these arts is necessary because they are protectors of the religion and are considered warriors,” Puri said.

The sadhus become “mahapurush” (great men) after three years of training at the akharas. If selected to become Nagas, they take the holy dip in the Ganga and discard their clothes.

“A mahamandaleshwar (supreme sadhu) hands them a stick and a kamandal. Certain secret rituals are held through the night below the akhara’s flag. The sadhus are washed with milk and ghee. They again take a bath in the Ganga and become Nagas. These processes will start on April 4,” Puri said.

Adi Shankaracharya, the eighth-century philosopher, had founded seven akharas: Mahanirvani, Niranjani, Atal, Avahan, Agni, Ananda and Nirvani. Six other akharas — Nirmal Panchayati, Nirmohi, Digambar, Juna, Udasin Bara Akhara and Udasin Naya Akhara — were formed over the centuries. Several newer akharas have come up in recent years, including a Kinnar (transgender) Akhara.

The country has about 4 lakh Naga sadhus.