'Glamorous' Sadhvi Harsha's Presence At Mahakumbh Sparks Row, Internet Questions Her Authenticity
Draped in saffron robes, adorned with rudraksha beads, and her forehead marked with a tilak, Harsha was seen answering a journalist’s questions while seated gracefully on a chariot during a procession in a viral video.
As millions gather to bathe in the holy Sangam — the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers — during the ongoing Mahakumbh 2025, the grand religious event celebrated every 12 years has not only captured spiritual fervour but also social media’s imagination. Among the highlights is Harsha Richhariya, a striking personality whose transition from a glamorous lifestyle to spirituality has sparked curiosity and debate on social media where she is getting famous as the most ‘glamorous’ sadhvi.
The Viral Moment
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Harsha Richhariya became an overnight sensation after a video featuring her at the Mahakumbh Mela went viral. Draped in saffron robes, adorned with rudraksha beads, and her forehead marked with a tilak, she answered a journalist’s questions while seated gracefully on a chariot during a procession. Asked about her journey into asceticism, she responded with poise: “I left behind what I needed to and embraced this path. I chose the life of a Sadhvi for inner peace."
Richhariya, 30, revealed that she hails from Uttarakhand and is a disciple of Acharya Mahamandaleshwar. In the video, she said that she had been living as a Sadhvi for two years, having turned away from her past life as an actress, anchor, and traveler. “When you achieve so much in life — acting, anchoring, traveling the world — you realise that none of it brings true peace. Devotion started to draw me in, and I immersed myself in prayer, hymns, and spirituality," she said.
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From Glamour to Spirituality
Harsha Richhariya’s past life paints a stark contrast to her present spiritual journey. A professional anchor, model, and influencer, she had hosted destination weddings in Bangkok and Myanmar as recently as November 2024. Her Instagram account, under the handle ‘host_harsha’, boasts nearly 700,000 followers and over 2,500 posts, showcasing a blend of her glamorous and spiritual personas, which has fueled online debates about her authenticity.
Richhariya’s followers and critics have unearthed old photos and videos, comparing her glamorous lifestyle with her current spiritual image. A video circulating on social media even shows her hosting events at luxury venues. Internet users said that such a past undermines the sanctity of her claims to asceticism.
Clarification and Controversy
However, after getting a strong reaction from social media users, Harsha said. “I am not yet a full-fledged Sadhvi. To become a Sadhvi, one must undergo a formal initiation and receive permission from their Guru. My Guru has not yet given me that blessing, as he believes I still have responsibilities to fulfil in the material world."
She added, “People have assumed my identity based on my appearance. While I am deeply devoted to spiritual practices, I am still transitioning. My journey is a blend of spirituality and the duties I have yet to complete in my personal life."
On her commitment to spirituality, she stated, “I have embraced a disciplined life of prayer and devotion. My work as an influencer and anchor continues because it is part of my responsibilities. Spirituality doesn’t demand abandoning one’s past but evolving from it."
Other than the reactions of the internet users who called her a ‘glamorous Sadhvi’ while a few shared her old videos and raised questions on her authenticity, Jyotish Peeth Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati too objected her participation in the first Amrit Snan (holy bath) of Mahakumbh in Prayagraj and her presence in the royal chariot designated for Mahamandaleshwars (a revered title among Hindu ascetics), calling it inappropriate.
What Did Shankaracharya Say?
Swami Avimukteshwaranand criticised the inclusion of Harsha Richhariya in such a ceremonial capacity, stating that it reflected a “distorted mindset." He said that the Mahakumbh is a spiritual event where inner beauty and devotion should be emphasised over physical appearance. He further stated that it is wrong to place someone who has not committed to either a life of renunciation (sannyas) or marriage at par with saints and spiritual leaders. He suggested that Harsha could have attended the event as a devotee, but being adorned in saffron robes and seated on the royal chariot alongside saints was inappropriate.
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