Being one of the oldest and largest human gatherings, this year the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj has successfully attracted tourists and locals in uncountable numbers. Scheduled from 13th January to 26th February 2025, millions of devotees have paid a visit to fulfil their desires of attending shahi snan for attaining mental peace, accomplishment, purifying the soul and getting rid of all sins.
Many believe in getting rid of worldly pleasures, materialistic wealth and adopt a simplistic life by taking a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam. Naga sanyasis, sadhus, pilgrims, politicians, filmstars, billionaire businessmen, and the general public from different parts of the globe have gathered there.
Out of these, a chunk of sadhus and some common people turned into viral sensations when streamed on the Internet. Their clips from the Maha Kumbh have touched the floors of every individual’s digital screen. From IIT Baba, Ambassador Baba, Chai Baba, to Monalisa, these hot trending topics are breaking view records.
From engineers, chai enthusiasts, scholars, and flower sellers, let’s scroll through Maha Kumbh’s unexpected stars:
- Mona Lisa: A garland seller from Indore, MP has created enough buzz and excitement amongst the top headlines for her attractive amber eyes and dusky skin. The sixteen year old girl also received an offer to act in a debut Bollywood film.
- IIT Baba: Abhay Singh, engineer from IIT Bombay turned full-time Baba left his aerospace career in search of the truth of life. He even tried photography and teaching but found his answers after choosing to renounce domestic life.
- Chai-wale Baba: Surviving on approximately 10 cups of tea and teaching UPSC aspirants for 40 years, Dinesh Swaroop Brahmachari has thrilled the Internet with his excellent communication skills through gestures and WhatsApp messages.
- Ambassador Baba: A 1973 saffron-colored Ambassador car is no more perfect than a complete representation of an Indian jugaad. An exhaust fan on the roof to tackle heat and a battery-operated setup that turns ice blocks into a desi AC represents his iconic ride.
- Baba Mokshpuri: Formerly known as Michael, US army veteran from New Mexico began his spiritual journey in 2000 seeking solace after a devastating incident took his son away. In search of ultimate salvation (moksha), he adopted the Sanatan Dharma.
- Kabootar-wale Baba: Mahant Rajpuri Ji Maharaj from the Juna Akhara, has a regal pigeon named Hari Puri which rests on his head throughout the day despite the chaos and crowd of people pouring in every minute. They have remained inseparable since the last 8-9 years.
- Rudraksh Baba: Popular for his unique adornment, a necklace comprising 108 strands of rudraksha beads weighing up to 30 kgs has earned him a lot of name and fame during the Maha Kumbh.
- Harry Potter: The video of a gentleman resembling J.K. Rowling’s main character from Harry Potter played by Daniel Radcliff went viral while he was feasting on some prasad. His appearance and styling resembled the character and created amusement across the digital space.
Amidst all the chants and holy dips, these Internet sensations have attracted more people towards Prayagraj. Be it online or offline, social media handles and news are popping up with minute updates from the Maha Kumbh Mela every minute and so are the roads adjacent to Prayagraj with visitors hustling for some space to reach their destination.
If you are also planning a visit, please ensure that you have proper travel and stay arrangements with enhanced safety and security.
Har Har Mahadev!
