Laurene Powell Jobs, widow of Apple’s Steve Jobs, visits Prayagraj’s Maha Kumbh Mela for sacred dip

Laurene Powell Jobs, the billionaire businesswoman and philanthropist, is participating in the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, India. The widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, Powell Jobs arrived at the Niranjani Akhara ashram of her guru, Swami Kailashnand Giri, on Saturday night. She is accompanied by a 40-member team and will stay at the ashram until January 15, marking a spiritual journey before returning to the United States.

The Maha Kumbh Mela, one of the world’s largest religious gatherings, is a festival celebrated by millions of Hindus in India. Powell Jobs, known for her philanthropic efforts, is set to take a holy dip at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers on January 14, a ritual believed to cleanse one’s sins and grant spiritual benefits. This marks a significant moment for the businesswoman as she embraces her guru’s teachings during the auspicious event.

Following her participation in the Kumbh Mela, Powell Jobs will head to the United States for the swearing-in ceremony of US President-elect Donald Trump. Her visit to the Mela highlights her deepening connection to her guru and her pursuit of spirituality, even amid her high-profile life.

This pilgrimage to the Kumbh Mela is a rare and significant moment for the family of the late Steve Jobs. Powell Jobs has been an advocate for numerous charitable causes, including education and social justice, through her Emerson Collective, which she founded in 2004. While in Prayagraj, she will take part in various rituals and engage in discussions on spirituality and philanthropic work.

Her participation in this event has drawn attention due to her status as one of the wealthiest and most influential women in the world, but her journey to the Maha Kumbh signifies a humble embrace of spiritual practices and an acknowledgment of the spiritual journey ahead.

As Powell Jobs immerses herself in the sacred waters of the Kumbh, the world watches not only for the religious significance of her act but also for the deeper personal meaning she finds in it.