Laurene Powell, the wife of the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, participated in the Pattabhishek (coronation) ceremony of Vyasanand Giri Maharaj at the Niranjani Akhara in the presence of Swami Kailashanand Giri Maharaj in Prayagraj. A video showing Powell participating in the event surfaced online.
Swami Kailashanand Giri told ANI that the Akhara has bestowed Powell with a Hindu name, ‘Kamala,’ as a gesture of respect and inclusion. “She is coming to visit her guru here. We have named her Kamala and she is like a daughter to us. This is the second time she is coming to India… Everyone is welcome in Kumbh,” he said.
Powell is currently in Prayagraj to immerse herself in Hindu rituals and will stay at the camp of her guru Swami Kaliashananda, the “Mahamnadleshwar” of Niranjani Akhara. She will participate in several rituals of the Maha Kumbh till January 29.
Hailing from one of the wealthiest families in the world, Laurene will don the saffron attire of a sanyasin during the Maha Kumbh and take a royal dip during the Shahi Snan (January 14) and Mauni Amavasya (January 29).
Laurene is among several VIPs, VVIPs, millionaires, seers and saints to participate in Maha Kumbh and will offer ‘kalpavas’ during her stay. Notably, Kalpvas is an age-old practice in the Hindu tradition observed by devotees, referred to as Kalpvasis or Kalpwasis, for a month starting from Paush Purnima to Maghi Purnima.
Laurene was seen offering prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi on Saturday, accompanied by her guru. Speaking on Laurene Jobs’ arrival for the Maha Kumbh, the priest said she was made to see the Shivling from outside of the temple as no other Hindus are permitted to touch the holy symbol of Lord Shiva.
Preparations are nearly at an end for the Maha Kumbh, which will take place from January 13 to February 26. Some 400 million pilgrims are expected at the spectacular Kumbh Mela festival in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj – billed as the largest gathering of humanity on the planet.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh said that the state budget for the 45-day-long mega event is around Rs 7,000 crore and this year’s fair will be the first to use artificial intelligence and chatbots. The UP Police have established a multi-layered security system around the Prayagraj district.
The main bathing rituals (Shahi Snan) of the Kumbh will take place on January 14 (Makar Sankranti), January 29 (Mauni Amavasya), and February 3 (Basant Panchami).
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