- galaxy
- 17 Jan 2025 09:00 PM
- Jaya Kishori, Maha Kumbh 2025, spirituality
In a heartfelt appeal to the youth, Jaya Kishori, a renowned spiritual orator and motivational speaker, has urged young people to attend the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj to experience peace, happiness, and spiritual bliss. Speaking exclusively at the Maha Kumbh 2025, Ms. Kishori shared her personal experience of taking her first Amrit Snan (sacred bath) at the Sangam, describing it as a "surreal" experience that left her feeling blessed.
She explained that before taking the dip, she felt a mix of nervousness and excitement. However, once she entered the holy waters, all her tension vanished, replaced by a profound sense of calmness and positive energy. "You feel a different kind of energy within you, a positive one, and I think this is what every youth is struggling towards," she said, emphasizing that today's youth are in search of "permanent happiness" or anand, not fleeting joy.
The Maha Kumbh, which began on January 13, 2025, and will conclude on February 26, is the largest religious gathering in the world, with an estimated 45 crore people expected to participate. Attendees flock to the Sangam to bathe in the sacred confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers, believed to wash away sins and purify the soul.
Ms. Kishori also touched on a controversy surrounding her in October 2024, when she faced backlash for carrying an expensive Dior "Book Tote" worth over Rs. 2 lakh. Known for her teachings on non-materialism, she defended the balance between materialism and spirituality. Drawing on teachings from the Bhagavad Gita, Ms. Kishori explained that Arjuna was not told to renounce material possessions but to follow his dharma (duty). She stressed that material success should not overpower one's spiritual growth, and that it is possible to lead a prosperous life while remaining connected to spirituality.
Ms. Kishori also mentioned that after completing education, individuals have two paths: grihastha (householder life) or vairagya (detachment). If one chooses the grihastha path, material pursuits are part of life. However, she warned that materialism only becomes problematic when possessions begin to control one's life.
In recognition of her efforts in blending modernism with spirituality, Ms. Kishori received the Best Creator Award for Social Change in March 2024 from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, acknowledging her ability to inspire the masses while promoting spiritual growth.