OYO CEO Ritesh Agarwal visits BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi with wife, son

Ritesh Agarwal, the 30-year-old founder and CEO of OYO Rooms, recently visited the BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, celebrating his first wedding anniversary with wife Geetansha Sood and son Aryan. While sharing pictures and a YouTube video on social media, Agarwal's visit to the holy site comes at a crucial time for OYO Rooms, as the hospitality giant grapples with controversies that have cast shadows on its once-flourishing success.

The tech magnate, with a staggering net worth of approximately Rs 15,000 crore, wrote on X, "Jai Swaminarayan Celebrated my first wedding anniversary with my lovely wife Geet and our son, Aryan at the BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir, Abu Dhabi."

Agarwal expressed his deep connection to the spiritual realm, having visited various holy sites and temples across the country in the past year. He said he heard about the temple when Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated it and so decided to pay a visit.
“I first heard about it when PM Modi ji inaugurated it recently, so I decided to make a pitstop here. I have been to many holy sites and temples this year from Puri to Bhubaneswar & Ayodhya, each with its own beauty and grandeur. I couldn’t think of a better place to be on this occasion and seek blessings,” he continued.

PM Modi had inaugurated the temple on February 14.

OYO Rooms, founded in 2012, disrupted the Indian hospitality market, achieving the coveted status of a Unicorn. Yet, allegations of hidden charges, predatory pricing strategies, and aggressive business practices have tarnished its reputation.