Why do the Sadhus (ascetics) consider the Snan (bath) here so important?
The snan becomes extremely important to the Sadhus (ascetics) because they are supposed to augment river Ganga in cleaning the sins of the common man who bathe here. It is believed that in an unending cycle, the ascetics pick up the Paapa (Sins) and negate these sins through their penance and convert them into Punya (merit). Year after year, specially during the Kumbha Shahi Snan. Since the common man is incapable of performing such difficult Tapasya and austerities the ascetics take on the responsibility of maintaining the balance of Karma.
