The Mahakumbh Mela, the world's largest peaceful gathering, began in Prayagraj on January 13 and will conclude on February 26. This grand event attracts millions of pilgrims who believe that bathing in the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers during the Kumbh Mela grants liberation from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, paving the way to Moksha.

Amidst this spiritual celebration, a handwritten letter from 1974 by the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs has resurfaced, drawing significant attention. In the letter, Jobs expressed his desire to visit the Kumbh Mela, a testament to his spiritual aspirations during his youth.

This letter, addressed to his childhood friend Tim Brown, was auctioned in 2021 for ₹4.32 crores (approximately $500,312.50) by Bonhams, a renowned international auction house.

The letter reads:

"Tim,

I have read your letter many times.
I do not know what to say.

Many mornings have come and gone; people have come and went.
I have loved and I have cried many times.

Somehow, though, beneath it all, it doesn't change – do you understand?

I am now living on a farm in the mountains between Los Gatos and Santa Cruz. I wish to go to India for the Kumbh Mela, which starts in April. I will be leaving sometime in March, not really certain yet. If you desire, and I am still here when you arrive, we can come up here in the mountains together, and you can tell me your thoughts and feelings, which I did not fully understand from your letter.

There is a fire in the other room, and I am getting cold here. I will end by saying I do not even know where to begin.

Shanti,
Steve Jobs"

Although Jobs never made it to the Kumbh Mela, he did embark on a spiritual journey to India later in 1974. Inspired by Neem Karoli Baba, a revered Hindu guru, Jobs planned to visit his ashram. Upon arriving in Uttarakhand, he learned that Neem Karoli Baba had passed away the previous year. Nevertheless, Jobs chose to stay at Kainchi Dham Ashram, where he immersed himself in Indian culture and spirituality for seven months.

Laurene Powell Jobs Honors His Wish

Fulfilling Steve Jobs' long-held wish, his wife, Laurene Powell Jobs, attended the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj in 2025. During her visit, she embraced Indian traditions, practicing meditation, Kriya Yoga, and Pranayama under the guidance of Swami Kailashanand Giri, who gave her the Hindu name "Kamala."

Despite developing allergies on her second day, Laurene plans to partake in the sacred ritual of bathing in the Ganga River. Accompanied by a 40-member team, her visit reflects her deep respect for Indian culture and her commitment to honoring her late husband's spiritual aspirations.

This story of Steve Jobs' unfulfilled wish and Laurene Powell Jobs' homage to his journey serves as a poignant reminder of the profound connection between the modern tech visionary and the ancient spiritual traditions of India.