The Maha Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years, draws visitors, mystics, and followers from all across the world. The Maha Kumbh Nagar, which is set up in the city of Prayagraj is their home for the duration of the two weeks that it is held, and both culturally as well as religiously, this is one of the biggest events in years. This year, at Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, one of the big names who have grabbed the internet’s attention with their presence at the event is inventor-entrepreneur Steve Jobs’ widow Laurene Powell Jobs.
One of the wealthiest women in tech, Laurene’s claim to fame is not just being the wife of Steve Jobs. She co-founded Terravera, a natural foods company in California; was on the board of directors of Achieva, which provides students online tools to practice for standardized tests, and worked for Merrill Lynch Asset Management and Goldman Sachs before she signed up for business school, and met Steve Jobs.
In 1989, while Laurene Powell Jobs was still an MBA student at the Stanford Business School, Jobs delivered a lecture titled ‘View from the Top’. The two were reportedly seated together, got talking, and were married in a Buddhist ceremony a year and a half later. The couple has three kids, a son Reed, and daughters Erin and Eve.
Laurene Powell Jobs is also a philanthropist and has worked extensively for the betterment of the community. One of these ventures is a $50 million project, called XQ: The Super School Project, which aims to inspire teams of educators, and students, and help create and implement new plans for high schools in the country. She is also an investor in California Forever, which is a company building a planned sustainable city in Solano County, California.
Steve Jobs’ wife at Mahakumbh 2025
When the news of the wife of Steve Jobs making her way to Mahakumbh 2025 appeared, many were surprised to learn about her spiritual beliefs and ties. She will be staying at Swami Kailashananda's camp, and will be taking part in a variety of spiritual practices, including meditation. She has been given the Hindu name ‘Kamala’ by her guru Swami Kailashananda, and with her 40 people entourage, will be seen joining the mystic’s camp as they take the dip on 14th of January.
Laurene Powell Jobs made her way to Prayagraj on Sunday, after paying a visit to Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi on Saturday. The billionaire investor was dressed in a peach-yellow salwar suit, with kalava on her right hand, and a rudraksh mala. Her guru told the news agency ANI, “I am an Acharya, and it is my duty to uphold traditions, principles, and conduct. She is my daughter," he added. "All of our family participated in the 'Abhishek' and worshipped. She was given a prasad and a garland. However, the tradition is that anyone other than a Hindu cannot touch Kashi Vishwanath. If I do not maintain this tradition, then it will be broken.”
The camp will be seen taking a dip in the Amrit Snan, scheduled for Makar Sankranti on 14th January 2025. All akharas, including Niranjini Akhara which has Swami Kailashananda's camp, will take their ordained dips in a sequence, with the said Akhara slated to bathe between 7:05 am and 7:45 am.
These sequences are designed to ensure that everyone lining up to take a dip gets accommodated without compromising on the safety procedures in the Maha Kumbh Nagar, or the vast settlement that comes alive during the Kumbh Mela. The state government has extensive measures in place for Mahakumbh 2025, including NDRF teams and Uttar Pradesh Police’s water police units, that have been stationed to ensure the safety of devotees as the 'Shahi Snan' commenced on Paush Purnima, marking the start of Maha Kumbh 2025.
Apart from the safety measures, there are also designated hospitals to manage any issues should they arise. Three hospitals have been established for the Mahakumbh 2025, at Aurai, Gopiganj, and Unj police stations on National Highway 19 in Bhadohi district for devotees. These facilities will become fully operational on January 14, and will make the visit to Mahakumbh 2025 seamless and safe.