Philanthropist and Rajya Sabha member Sudha Murthy visited the Mahakumbha in Prayagraj for three days and participated in the Mahaprasad service at the ISKCON camp. Wearing a green saree and holding a black bag, she was seen slapping the devotees.
Online videos show Murthy exploring the ISKCON Mahaprasadam kitchen, talking to volunteers, and learning how food is prepared with modern equipment.
She arrived in Kumbh to perform Tarpan, a ritual honoring her ancestors, and also took a holy bath at the Triveni Sangam.
“I took a vow for three days, I took a holy bath yesterday, I will do the same today, and I will do it again tomorrow. My grandparents, grandmother, grandmother, none of them could come – so I have to offer. .Tarpan on their behalf and I am very happy,” he said.
He also praised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the arrangements. “All the people under Yogiji’s leadership have done a great job here. I wish them long life”.
Moreover, he described Mahakumbha as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “It is ‘Pilgrimage’ (The Holy of Holies). Mahakumbh is coming after 144 years, and I am very excited and happy to be here,” he said.
The Adani Group, working with ISKCON, provides Mahaprasad to more than 40,000 devotees every day. The kitchen in Sector 19 of Prayagraj has boilers and machines that can prepare 10,000 rotis every hour.
Sudha Murthy is not the only influential person to attend the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. Lauren Powell Jobs, wife of Apple founder Steve Jobs, veteran actor Anupam Kher, and Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani also joined the mega gathering.
On Tuesday, Adani reached Mahakumbh with his family. He was accompanied by his wife and Adani Foundation Chairperson Preeti Adani and their son Karan Adani, Managing Director of Adani Ports and SEZ.
Mahakumbh started on January 13, till January 20, about 87.9 million devotees had taken the holy bath.
