Prayagraj: Amid the sea of devotion that engulfed Sangam on Makar Sankranti, a splash of luxury and unbridled swag stole the show. Varanasi’s Satua Baba Peeth head, Jagatguru Mahamandaleshwar Santosh Das, aka Satua Baba, rolled up in style, proving that even the most austere spiritual paths can have a pillion of extravagance.As the procession slowly moved towards the Sangam, Satua Baba made a grand entry in Rs 3 crore Porsche Taycan electric sports car wearing branded sunglasses and exhibiting confident smile and demeanour that immediately resonated with the crowd. Satua Baba’s luxury ride collection is stealing the show at Magh Mela. His camp is now the hotspot, with high-end cars drawing crowds. “Can’t people of faith cruise in style? Don’t know the cars’ names or prices…
but they’re symbols of devotion, not arrogance,” Satua Baba said. According to a vintage car supplier in Prayagraj, some of these swanky vehicles come at a whopping rent of Rs 50,000 a day. He said some smaller akharas also booked four to five vintage cars like Rolls-Royce for five days around Makar Sankranti. The luxury rides aren’t just personal treats – many belong to the senior seers who lead as peetadheeshwars, mahamandaleshwars and mahants. Others are part of their protocol teams, adding to the grandeur of the spiritual spectacle. Apart from swanky cars, many saints and seers are donning gold chains, trendy nosepins, and even makeup, blending spirituality with a dash of glamour. Kalyani Maa of Kinnar Akahara, who is also active on social media, wears trendy Banarasi sarees, a statement bindi, bold red lipstick, and a show-stopping gold nosepin. And, their followers do not find anything wrong in this as their goal is to seek blessings.
