PRAYAGRAJ: Model-influencer Harsha Richaria’s participation in the Shahi Snan at Prayagraj Maha Kumbh has become a bone of contention among seers.
After Shambhavi Peethadheeshwar Swami Anand Swaroop’s objections to her participation in the first Amrit Snan on Makar Sankranti, Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP) president Mahant Ravindra Puri has announced that he would take Harsha to Sangam in the chariot of Niranjani Akhara on Jan 29, the second Amrit Snan.
“She is our daughter and the pride of Uttarakhand. I told her that she’ll be taking the holy dip on Mauni Amavasya sitting on a chariot in a full royal and grand manner, and she will bathe like a ‘devi’. I requested her to stay back and complete her stay at Kumbh,” said Puri.
Not everyone is pleased with the attention being showered on the influencer. Swami Anand Swaroop urged Mahant Puri to reconsider the decision, citing his responsibility to protect Sanatan Dharma as ABAP president. “My view is very simple: a model should not and cannot take part in the Amrit Snan along with other seers just because she has worn bhagwa (saffron). It is disrespectful to the seer community, and we will certainly stop this from happening. Ab aar paar ho hi jaaye (Now, it should be settled once and for all),” said Anand Swaroop, chief of Kali Sena, while talking to TOI.
Richaria, on her part, told the media: “I have come home to my Maharaj ji. If he is blessing me, I don’t need any other person’s support. If a daughter gets the support of her father, what else does she need? As I said earlier, I am here to learn about Sanatan Dharma to get connected with it, so that I can spread awareness in society.”
Richaria grabbed attention at Maha Kumbh as she moved on a chariot on the day of the first Amrit Snan (Jan 14). Her videos and photos went viral on social media platforms, making her an instant sensation, with some followers referring to her as the “most beautiful sadhvi”.
However, the kind of attention she has been getting has met with disapproval from a section of ascetics. Some of them said the purpose of Kumbh was to disseminate spiritual knowledge, not to serve as a platform for publicity.
