The only people who do the disgusting stuff are the small number who practice “Left handed” so-callled Tantra yoga. Also called Aghori or Vama Tantra. The English words “ghastly/ghost” comes from the Sanskrit root of Ghori/ghora.
I have researched this, and there is no, I repeat, NO ancient vedic source for the Vama Tantra practices. Surfaced first several hundred years ago, and likely connected with some Tibetan Buddhist practices.
It is so far from any mainstream branches of Hinduism or schools that it is weirder and less practiced than Christian snake handlers.
Saivite ascentics who are far more numerous often smear ashes on the body, said to repel insects, but regular ashes. BTW I am a lifelong Hindu so I have a bit of background in this matter.
Of course a moslem did the CNN presentation.
Lemme guess — this wasn't obvious. Fake news!
My quick references contradict you on the way you relate it to the west.
“Ghost” comes from Germanic, “Gheist” which is related to “vision.” (Hence, the Catholic Church decided that “Holy Spirit” was a better than “Holy Ghost,” even though previously, a spirit could be animal, not rational (human). The sanskrit origin of “Ghost” was “hedah,” meaning wrath (anger).
I don’t read Hindu, but Wikipedia claims tantra is found in several veda... and established in the mainstream writings by 500 BC. Is it wrong?