(L to R) Laurene Powell Jobs, the billionaire widow of Steve Jobs; Naga Sadhus arrive to take a dip during the third "Shahi Snan" at "Kumbh Mela"
Credit: Reuters Photo
Lucknow: Laurene Powell Jobs, billionaire widow of Steve Jobs and co-founder of Apple, who arrived at Prayagraj to take part in the Maha Kumbh on Monday, developed an allergy ahead of the first ‘Amrit Snan’ on Tuesday.
According to the sources, Laurene fell sick owing to the huge crowd as she had never been to such a crowded place before.
Swami Kailashananda, the ‘Mahamnadleshwar’ of Niranjani Akhara said that Laurene was resting at his camp at Maha Kumbh. ‘’She is at my shivir (camp)….she had never seen such huge crowds before….she has developed an allergy,’’ he added.
‘’Laurene is a simple lady. She is here to learn and experience the Sanatan traditions. She was with us during the puja last night,’’ the Swami said.
Swami Kailashananda said that Laurene would not be able to take part in the first ‘Amrit Snan’. ‘’Though she will not be able to take the holy dip at Sangam on the occasion of the first Amrit Snan, she will certainly take bath in the Ganga,’’ he said without elaborating.
‘’We will make arrangements to enable her to take bath alone. She will take part in the puja and havan (a ritual by fire),’’ the Swami said.
Laurene had reached Varanasi on Saturday and visited the famous Kashi Vishwanath Temple there.
According to the earlier reports, Laurene would be observing ‘kalpavas’ (a ritual during which the devotee follows a disciplined religious life on the bank of the Ganga) at the Maha Kumbh.
Swami Kailashananda is said to be Laurene’s ‘guru’. The Swami said that Laurene has been adopted like a daughter and given a new name ‘Kamala’. ‘’Laurene is curious to know about our traditions and culture,’’ he said.