Abhinav Arora at Maha Kumbh
Credit: X/@Incognito_qfs
Spiritual content creator Abhinav Arora, all of ten years, found himself at the heart of another controversy after social media reports circulated that he had carried a Dior bag made of calfskin to the Maha Kumbh.
While a spiritual person carrying a Dior bag -- estimated to cost over Rs 3 lakh -- has come across as a surprise to many, it is the material the bag is made of that has sparked outrage. Cows are sacred to Hinduism with most eschewing the use of leather as a result -- but especially staying way from calfskin.
It all began when Arora was filmed carrying a designed Dior bag on Feb 12 to Prayagraj, where he was to take a dip at the Sangam -- the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers.
"Abhinav Arora is holding a bag which is worth more than ₹3 lakhs & is made of black smooth calf skin," a person on X posted, sharing screenshots of the Large Dior Hit the Road Bag with details that it is made of 'black coated canvas' and 'black smooth calfskin.'
"Abhinav brought this leather bag which is made of calf skin to Mahakumbh. I have never seen such a 'Bhakt' in my life," the user said.
Arora's father, speaking to Hindustan Times said "It's a fabric canvas bag. Not sure about the name. We bought it on our last foreign tour."
Arora, via his father, told the publication, "The said bag is made out of fabric canvas and not calfskin. I don't use leather at all even in my footwears. I will never do that in my lifetime. And as far materialistic possessions are concerned, I am living a family-centered social life performing religious rituals. I am telling again that I am not a saint and just a devotee and a spiritual orator. Whatever I do, I don't hide. Otherwise I wouldn't have taken the said bag to Sangam where 2 crore people took bath on Magh Purnima."
Arora, or bal sant baba, has earlier been in the eye of the storm over backlash at him dancing on stage at some spiritual event.
Like Arora, spiritual speaker Jaya Kishori had also drawn flak when it was suggested online that she was carrying a Rs 2 lakh Dior bag as well, made of calf leather. At the time, Kishori too had said she was not a saint and believed in material possessions, and clarified that hers was a custom bag that did away with any part of the animal considered sacred to Hindus.