Who is the 13-year-old girl who has decided to become sadhvi at Maha Kumbh?

Rakhi Singh, a 13-year-old girl from Agra, had always dreamed of becoming an IAS officer. However, during her visit to the Maha Kumbh camp in Prayagraj, her perspective on life took a dramatic turn.

The teen felt a deep sense of “detachment from worldly life at the Maha Kumbh,” and made a life-changing decision to become a ‘sadhvi.’

Her parents, viewing this transformation as a divine calling, wholeheartedly supported her decision, and even “willingly donated their daughter” to the ashram, a prominent mahant (religious leader) shared with PTI.

With the Maha Kumbh set to begin on January 19, Rakhi, now known as Gauri Giri, will undergo the sacred renunciation process and embark on her new spiritual journey.

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Becoming Gauri Giri

Rakhi’s journey began when her family, residing in Agra, connected with Mahant Kaushal Giri Maharaj of the Juna Akhara, one of the most prominent Hindu monastic orders.

For the past three years, Mahant Kaushal Giri had been visiting their village to conduct Bhagwat Katha sessions, during which Rakhi, along with her family, became profoundly influenced by his teachings.

It was during one of these sessions that Rakhi took her guru diksha, or initiation, marking the start of her spiritual path, PTI quoted the girl’s mother Reema Singh as saying.

Reema explained that Mahant Kaushal Giri invited her, her husband Sandeep Singh—who runs a confectionery business—and their two daughters, Rakhi and 8-year-old Nikki, to serve at the Maha Kumbh camp in Prayagraj last month.

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It was here that Rakhi expressed her desire to become a sadhvi. Her parents, guided by their faith, accepted her decision as God’s will. “One day, Rakhi expressed her wish to become a sadhvi. Believing it to be God’s will, we raised no objections,” her mother said.

Mahant Kaushal Giri confirmed that the family “willingly donated their daughter” to the ashram, emphasizing that the decision was made freely, without any coercion. “The decision was made without any coercion. The family has been connected to us for some time, and at their request, Rakhi has been accepted into the ashram,” the seer said.

Rakhi will now be known as Gauri Giri, marking the beginning of her new life dedicated to spirituality.

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Renunciation process

Rakhi’s renunciation is part of a centuries-old tradition, where spiritual seekers detach from worldly attachments to dedicate themselves to a life of service and devotion.

As part of this sacred process, Rakhi will participate in rituals, including the “pind daan” ceremony, which marks her formal transition to a life of renunciation. On January 19, she will undergo these rites, officially becoming a member of the Guru’s spiritual family.

When asked if she has concerns about her daughter’s decision, Reema, Rakhi’s mother, shared, “As a mother, I will always worry about where and how she is. Relatives often question why we entrusted our daughter to the ashram. Our response is that it was God’s wish.”

In recent years, many young individuals have chosen to leave the comforts of the world behind in pursuit of a life dedicated to spirituality. One such notable case was that of 8-year-old Devanshi Sanghvi from Surat, who renounced her luxurious life as the daughter of a wealthy diamond businessman to become a Jain sadhvi.

Last year, another high-profile story emerged when Bhavesh Bhai Bhandari, a businessman from Gujarat, made headlines. He and his wife were seen showering currency notes on a crowd from a chariot during a grand ceremony where they, along with 33 others—including children and several couples—renounced their material comforts to embrace monkhood in Ahmedabad.

With input from agencies