Laurene Powell Jobs, philanthropist and widow of late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, experienced health challenges during her visit to the Maha Kumbh 2025 in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Despite developing allergies, she is determined to partake in the sacred ritual of taking a dip at the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers.

Jobs, who arrived on Monday after visiting the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, is staying in a camp hosted by spiritual leader Swami Kailashanand Giri at the Niranjini Akhara. Speaking to ANI, Swami Giri revealed, “She is quite simple and has never been to such a crowded place before. She stayed with us during the pooja and will participate in the holy dip.” Swami Giri has given her the spiritual name ‘Kamala’ during her visit.

The Maha Kumbh 2025, marking a rare celestial event occurring once every 144 years, is one of the world’s largest religious gatherings. It attracts millions of devotees, including sadhus, pilgrims, and international visitors, to Prayagraj. Ms. Jobs’ visit underscores the global draw of this ancient tradition.

On Tuesday, the first Amrit Snan (sacred dip) saw the participation of 3-4 crore devotees, including members of the 13 Akhadas of Sanatan Dharma. These akhadas, representing Shaivite, Vaishnav, and Udaseen traditions, took turns performing their rituals at the Triveni Sangam.

She plans to stay in Prayagraj until January 15 before returning to the United States to attend the January 20 swearing-in ceremony of President-elect Donald Trump. Her brief yet spiritually enriching experience at the Maha Kumbh is a testament to the event’s universal appeal.

The Maha Kumbh, a grand congregation held every 12 years at one of four sacred sites in India, will continue until February 26. Key dates for holy dips include January 14 (Makar Sankranti), January 29 (Mauni Amavasya), February 3 (Basant Panchami), February 12 (Maghi Purnima), and February 26 (Maha Shivaratri).

Social media giant Meta will soon be summoned by India’s Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communication and Information Technology over CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s comments regarding the 2024 Indian general election. Nishikant Dubey, BJP MP and chairman of the panel, stated that Meta would be held accountable for allegedly spreading misinformation.

“Misinformation in a democratic country damages its image. The organization must apologize to the Parliament and the people for this mistake,” Dubey said in a post on X.

Zuckerberg, during a January 10 podcast, referred to the global erosion of trust in governments post-Covid. He claimed that in 2024, major elections worldwide, including India’s, saw incumbents losing power, linking this trend to factors such as inflation, economic policies, and pandemic handling.

The statement was swiftly fact-checked by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who clarified that India’s 2024 general elections reaffirmed public trust in the NDA led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“As the world’s largest democracy, India conducted its 2024 elections with over 640 million voters. People reaffirmed their trust in the NDA under PM Modi’s leadership. Zuckerberg’s claim is factually incorrect,” Vaishnaw posted on X.

He also highlighted Modi’s governance during Covid, emphasizing free food for 800 million citizens, 2.2 billion free vaccines, and economic recovery efforts that positioned India as a fast-growing economy. Vaishnaw expressed disappointment in Meta for allowing such misinformation, urging the platform to prioritize factual reporting.

While the BJP saw a slight dip in seats during the 2024 elections, the NDA comfortably retained power with its allies’ support. This marked Modi’s historic third consecutive term as Prime Minister, making him only the second Indian leader after Jawaharlal Nehru to achieve this milestone.

The controversy surrounding Zuckerberg’s remarks underscores the growing scrutiny of social media platforms in influencing political discourse and the need for accountability in the digital space.

The stage for Delhi’s February 5 Assembly elections is not just political but musical, as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) engage in a melodious exchange of barbs. Both parties launched campaign songs targeting each other, blending politics with entertainment in a high-stakes battle for the national capital.

The BJP struck first with a Hindi rap accusing AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal of failing to deliver on his promises. Titled with a caption translating to “Delhi is in bad shape because of a cheat,” the song lambasts the AAP government, questioning its claims of achievements in health and education. Lyrics from the song assert, “Kejriwal left Delhi in bad shape, he tricked people with promises, he falsified every dream.”

Responding swiftly, the AAP released a Bhojpuri campaign song inspired by BJP MP Manoj Tiwari’s hit number Hind ke Sitara from the popular Panchayat web series. The adapted version lauds AAP’s governance, emphasizing its work in education and healthcare over the past two terms. The choice of Bhojpuri resonates with Delhi’s significant Purvanchali voter base, comprising migrants from eastern Uttar Pradesh and western Bihar.

Manoj Tiwari, a prominent Bhojpuri actor-turned-politician, has been a key figure in BJP’s Delhi campaigns. His original Hind ke Sitara track gained massive popularity, making AAP’s reimagining of the song a pointed move in the musical tug-of-war.

The Delhi election is shaping up to be a three-way contest between the ruling AAP, BJP, and Congress. Amid an aggressive campaign, both AAP and BJP have accused each other of voter list tampering. While AAP seeks a third consecutive term after winning 62 out of 70 Assembly seats in 2020, the BJP is aiming to break the streak, having secured just eight seats last time.

This unique blend of music and politics underscores the high stakes and creativity in the battle for Delhi, as parties attempt to connect with voters on cultural and emotional levels.