Prayagraj: A young woman’s video has been widely shared since the first day of the Mahakumbh, with her in a rudraksha necklace, flower garlands, and a tilak on her forehead. And her popularity at the event has gone beyond those of many spiritual leaders. But that’s what the media caught up with Harsha Richhariya for.
“I am not a Sadhvi; I’m not a holy woman at all… I’m not an officer from my district,” Richhariya clarified in an exclusive interview. The path of Sadhvi is very difficult, who have to take great pains. I have myself received guru mantra initiation from my spiritual guide and chant. I have had so much peace by turning to spirituality.”
Richhariya, who hails from Madhya Pradesh but resides in Uttarakhand, shared her spiritual journey: I saw Mahadev as a father figure when I was four years old. In that way I’ve been connected to him, sharing everything with him, problems, worries.”
In 2019, a yoga course transformed the life of a 30-year-old influencer in Ahmedabad. I realised some things while practicing sadhana. ‘I learnt a lot and gave up a lot of things, like cold drinks and coffee,’ she said.
Richhariya emphasised the universal search for peace: Everyone is seeking tranquility. You can earn as much money as you want, but without peace, it’s meaningless,” they said.
A graduate from a Brahmin family, Richhariya described her current lifestyle in Uttarakhand: “Now I live there and perform sadhana, visit temples, and engage in singing devotional songs.”
She said on a controversial note, ‘There is nothing wrong with becoming a Hindu nation.’ Sanatan Dharma is the oldest culture in this universe. Hinduism, or Sanatan Dharma, is the oldest culture in this universe!”
The Mahakumbh is yet to end, and while Richhariya remains in Haridwar, his words of stewarding over spirituality, influencer culture, and blending tradition with modernity continue to ignite talk in India.