Laurene Powell Jobs, widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, visited the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi on Saturday. Accompanied by Swami Kailashanand Giri Ji Maharaj of Niranjani Akhara, she adhered to temple traditions during her visit. Swami Kailashanand Giri noted that, according to Indian customs, non-Hindus are not permitted to touch the Shivling, so she viewed it from outside, reported NDTV.
Dressed in traditional Indian attire, featuring a pink suit and a white dupatta on her head, Laurene offered prayers from outside the sanctum sanctorum of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Kailashanand Giri also mentioned that they prayed for the successful completion of the Maha Kumbh without any obstacles or difficulties.
Laurene Powell Jobs, who has been given the Hindu name "Kamala" by the Akhara, is in India to attend the upcoming Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj. She plans to participate in rituals there, including taking a dip in the Ganges River.
"Today, we have come to Kashi to pray to Mahadev that the Kumbh is completed without any obstacles. I came here to invite Mahadev. Our disciple, Maharshi Vyasanand, is with us from America. Tomorrow, he is becoming a Mahamandaleshwar in my Akhara," he added. Laurene will attend the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, where she plans to stay and participate in rituals, including a dip in the Ganga.
The Maha Kumbh, a major Hindu pilgrimage and grand mela, is scheduled to begin on January 13 and conclude on February 26 in Prayagraj. This event occurs once every 12 years. On Saturday, a significant water laser show showcasing key events related to the Maha Kumbh was inaugurated by Industrial Development Minister Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi at the Yamuna Bank Ghat in Prayagraj.
The show, which cost nearly Rs 20 crore, lasted for 45 minutes. The Uttar Pradesh government has implemented extensive security measures and made elaborate arrangements to ensure a safe and grand celebration of the event. Thousands of AI-powered CCTV cameras, underwater drones, and state-of-the-art facilities for visitors and devotees have been set up. Additionally, electric buses have been deployed across the state for devotees, with 30 more buses expected from Lucknow to ensure seamless transportation across various routes.
The event is expected to attract millions of devotees from around the world. In 2025, many VIPs, VVIPs, millionaires, seers, and saints will participate in the upcoming Maha Kumbh at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Sarasvati rivers in Prayagraj.
According to various reports, Laurene will also observe "kalpavas" at the Maha Kumbh. Notably, kalpavas is an age-old practice in Hindu tradition observed by devotees, known as kalpavasis. This practice lasts a month, starting from Paush Purnima to Maghi Purnima, during which participants take daily baths in the Ganga and visit the camps of different seers and saints to listen to sermons and attend bhajans and kirtans during the Kumbh.
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