NEW DELHI: Laurene Powell JobsThe widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs suffered a brief illness while attending the Maha Kumbh in India but is now recovering after taking a dip in the Ganges River and resting, according to a statement from the Uttar Pradesh government. Despite the setback, his enthusiasm for learning about Sanatana Dharma still strong.
Mahamandaleshwar Swami Kailashanand Giri of Niranjani Akhara, who is Powell Jobs’ guru, has given it the new name”Kamla.” He described her as a “simple, virtuous and humble” woman with a great interest in Sanatan Dharma.
“She is free of ego and completely dedicated to her guru,” said Swami Kailashanand. “All her questions revolve around Sanatan Dharma and she finds great joy and satisfaction in the answers.”
Mahant Ravindra Puri, head of Panchayati Akhara Shri Niranjani and president of Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, said Powell Jobs’ quest for spirituality led her to the Maha Kumbh.
“She has a new name here, Kamla. She is very simple, soft and devoid of ego and she is here because she was inspired by the timeless Sanatani culture,” Puri said. “She keeps a low profile. The day before yesterday (Sunday), I asked her to come sit on the stage during an event, but she remained sitting in the back.”
Powell Jobs has largely avoided the media at the world’s largest religious gathering so far, with only a few short video clips of her being shared by media outlets last week. He is expected to stay at Niranjani Akhara for a few days as he continues his spiritual journey.
Around 20 million devotees participated in the first ‘Amrit Snan’ of Maha Kumbh 2025, according to Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Amrit Abhijat. He said that at night, more than 2.5 million people are expected to bathe in the Sangam. Uttar Pradesh CEO Prashant Kumar confirmed that police are closely monitoring the situation and special crowd control measures have been put in place.
On the occasion of Makar Sankranti, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath congratulated the devotees and termed the event as a testimony of Indian culture and faith.