New Delhi: Laurene Powell Jobs, the wife of late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, paid a visit to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi on Saturday before travelling to Prayagraj to attend the Maha Kumbh. She was accompanied by Swami Kailashanand Giri Ji Maharaj of Niranjani Akhara during her visit to the temple.
She wore a pink suit and a white ‘dupatta’ on her head. Laurene offered her prayers from outside the sanctum sanctorum at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Kailashanand Giri said that Laurene followed the traditions of the temple…”As per our Indian tradition, in Kashi Vishwanath, no other Hindu can touch the Shivling. That’s why she was made to see the Shivling from outside,” he reportedly pointed out.
He also noted that they prayed for the smooth and successful completion of the Maha Kumbh, free from any impediments or problems. Kailashanand Giri added that on Saturday, they came 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.”
#WATCH | Varanasi, UP | Kailashanand Giri Ji Maharaj of Niranjani Akhara, along with Laurene Powell Jobs, wife of the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi. pic.twitter.com/TMv1W3t4iw
— ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2025
Laurene was rechristened as ‘Kamala’ and she is set to attend the upcoming Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj. Kailashanand Giri said she will stay in Kumbh and also plans to take a holy dip in Ganga.
Laser show highlighting key events at Maha Kumbh inaugurated
‘Maha Kumbh’, the world’s biggest religious congregation, is set to start on January 13 and draw to a close on February 26 in Prayagraj. It is held once every 12 years. On Saturday, a grand water laser show highlighting key events of 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 to prepare, lasted 45 minutes.
The Uttar Pradesh government has put into place comprehensive security measures and made detailed 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. Besides, electric buses are being plied across the state to transport devotees, with 30 additional buses expected to arrive from Lucknow to ensure seamless transportation on various routes.
