New Delhi:
Laurene Powell Jobs, wife of late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, visited Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi on Saturday before heading to Prayagraj for Maha Kumbh. Mrs. Lawrence was accompanied to the temple by Swami Kailashan and Giri Ji Maharaj of Niranjani Akhara.
Ms. Laurene wore an Indian attire (a pink suit and a white 'dupatta' on her head) and offered prayers from outside the sanctum sanctorum at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
“She followed the traditions of the temple… As per our Indian tradition, no other Hindu in Kashi Vishwanath can touch the Shivling. Therefore, she had to see the Shivling from outside,” Kailashanand Giri said.
#WATCH | Varanasi, UP | Niranjani Akhara's Kailashanand Giri Ji Maharaj visits Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi along with Laurene Powell Jobs, wife of late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. pic.twitter.com/TMv1W3t4iw
— ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2025
He also said that they prayed for the successful completion of the Maha Kumbh without any obstacles or difficulties.
“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 will become a Mahamandaleshwar in my Akhara ,” he added.
Ms Laurene, who was renamed 'Kamala', will attend the upcoming Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh. According to Kailashanand Giri, she is staying in Kumbh and is also planning to take a dip in Ganga.
'Maha Kumbh', the grand mela, starts on January 13 and ends on February 26 in Prayagraj. It is held once every twelve years. A grand water laser show depicting important events related to the Maha Kumbh was inaugurated by Industrial Development Minister Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi at the Yamuna Bank Ghat in Prayagraj on Saturday. The show, prepared at a cost of nearly Rs 20 crore, lasted 45 minutes.
The UP government has implemented extensive security measures and made extensive arrangements to ensure a safe and grand celebration of the event. Thousands of AI-powered CCTVs, underwater drones and state-of-the-art facilities have been set up for visitors and devotees. At least electric buses have been deployed across the state for devotees and another 30 buses are expected from Lucknow to ensure seamless transportation across different routes.