Young teenager Hathi Giri wishes to be initiated at the Kumbh Mela as a Naga Sadhu by a ceremony that will leave him impotent for life.

For the last five years, Hathi has lived with the Juna Akhara (important Sadhu sect) in the ashram of the highly respected Ram Giri. He wishes to have his penis broken now to prevent any chances of any passion arising in the future, so he can continue to meditate with full concentration in his search for God.

If five of the ashram's gurus agree, then the initiation will go ahead. His guru will then cut of his hair on the 20th, 21st of January. Then he will fast for 3 days and bathe in Ganges, 108 times and on the 24th January (the main bathing day) his penis will be broken. After this, he can renounce his old self, take on a new identity and become a full Naga Baba.

Hathi then wishes to live in the jungle and meditate away from all distractions. He intends to sit here alone, and sing the hymns of his great teacher and of the other gods and holy spirits. When Hathi has completed the chants, he then hopes to perform the rites to be a Sadhu. Hathi believes that only then will his heart's desire come true.

Twelve years later, after the rites of becoming a Sadhu have been performed, he can ask his parents for a token of their charity. This will be important to Hathi Giri, as it will mean his parents have accepted that he has left home forever, and taken the vows of a holy man, a wondering Sadhu.

As for the moment, his parent's oppose the initiation and accuse the Sadhus of kidnapping Hathi. His mother still feels the immense pain of loosing her child and has made sacrifices in the hope he will eventually return home.

Hathi, however, has different feelings: