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Three of these - 14 and 29 January, and 3 February - have been designated as Shahi Snan days when the Naga sadhus will bathe.

The first major bathing day, Tuesday, will see ash-smeared naked Hindu holy men with matted dreadlocks, known as Naga sadhus, take a dip in the northern Indian city at dawn.

News agency ANI quoted unnamed police sources who said that Mr Singh, accompanied by an aide, had been seen at a prominent bus terminal disguised as a sadhu, or a Hindu preacher.

Hindu ascetics known as Naga sadhus, many naked apart from a coating of ash and carrying swords or tridents, led the bathers at the Kumbh Mela, or pitcher festival, in the northern town of Haridwar.

He’d been sitting in a taxi outside when an elephant, accompanied by a “gaggle of sadhus,” or holy men, passed them heading down the hill.