Bengaluru Group Doffs Clothes on National Nudes Day ! Nudism in India

A small group of nudists from Bengaluru gathered at a location in Sarjapur to celebrate National Nude Day (July 14), an occasion across the globe for naturists to spread awareness about their lifestyle. They cooked, played and partied, and veterans helped the dozen new members shed their inhibitions as they settled down into their birthday suits, which the seniors termed 'liberating'. Their day began around noon when the teapot was boiling at the common kitchen of the nudist pod in Sarjapur. Coordinator Pooja was elated about the big day of the nudist calendar and welcomed the TOI team with a smile. "It is a beautiful lifestyle when you know that your skin is able to breathe," laughed Pooja, standing nude at ease and sipping tea next to an open balcony of the pod as the others rejoiced. The 33-year-old is the head member of the 33- strong Bengaluru Nudist Group, comprising men, women and couples, including techies, teachers, doctors and businesspersons, all in the age group of 20-50. They meet regularly at the location to celebrate nudity after bonding on social media and close-knit Telegram groups, where membership is restricted and filtration is based on passion for the lifestyle, which is otherwise considered taboo. Indian laws prohibit practising nudity outdoors. Secrecy, socialising

While isolated nudists existed in the comforts of their homes in Bengaluru, some like Pooja, an entrepreneur who recently had a child, decided to take the daring step to form a group by connecting like-minded nudists, fuelled by her Instagram handle ribsofman. "I was introduced to the nudist lifestyle by a woman friend in 2015 and later I started attending meets where men, women and couples came together. It was so liberating as people in the group are there only because of the passion for nudity and no one gives you a sleazy stare," added Pooja, who met Ajay, a techie, at one of the Bengaluru meets and he later turned moderator for Bengaluru Nudist Group. Thursday's nude meet was Ajay's primary plan as he picked people based on pure passion for the lifestyle. "Nudism is a passionate life choice and is no way connected to sexual orientation or sex. Many misunderstand and mix the two and seek out sex through this. I have a thorough vetting process, where aspirants are streamlined and after establishing clearly their desire for a nude lifestyle, they are given a pass for the meet-up," he explained. The members include a city couple who wanted to be identified as only Mr and Mrs K. There is also a 45-year-old woman who goes by her Instagram handle frillfancynature. The couple was introduced to nudism a few years ago; the yoga practitioner is relatively new. "I have been practising nudity for the past four months after being inspired by the Bengaluru group, following my daily online interaction with them," says the woman, who keeps the lifestyle a secret from her family. The members interact via Telegram and every morning begins with many of them sharing their nude photographs on the group, leading to healthy discussions on life without clothes. The members are extremely secretive about their meets, where only seasoned ones verified on the dedicated Telegram group are invited. They come together clothed at the nudist pod and gradually shed their clothes slipping into complete nakedness, while some remain semi-clothed. Mobiles and other gadgets are a strict no-no at these gatherings to safeguard identities of the participants, especially women and couples. The group is preparing for an exclusive women-only meet soon.