• Friday, January 24, 2025

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Maha Kumbh: Former Bollywood actor Mamta Kulkarni to join Kinnar Akhara

The former actor visited the Kinnar Akhara in Prayagraj and met Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Dr. Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi

Kinnar Akhara’s Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Laxmi Narayan Tripathi and others perform rituals as former actor Mamta Kulkarni is being consecrated as a mahamandaleshwar during the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, in Prayagraj, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (PTI Photo)

By: India Weekly

ACTOR Mamta Kulkarni on Friday (24) renounced the worldly life at the Maha Kumbh and will be consecrated as a Hindu sadhvi under the Kinnar Akhara, seers said.

Kulkarni, 52, took ‘sanyas’ under the Kinnar Akhara by performing her own ‘Pind Daan’ and will be consecrated as ‘mahamandaleshwar’, they said.

The Kinnar Akhara was established by transgenders and it functions under the Juna Akhara.

While an akhara is a Hindu religious order, Pind Daan is a ritual performed to pay homage to the departed ancestors.

Kulkarni took a dip in the holy waters of the Sangam.

Kinnar Akhara’s Mahamandaleshwar Kaushalya Nand Giri alias Tina Maa told PTI that Kulkarni performed her own Pind Daan on the banks of River Ganga on Friday and she will be later consecrated as a mahamandaleshwar.

Kinnar Akhara’s Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Laxmi Narayan Tripathi will impart ‘deeksha’ (initiation) to Kulkarni.

She said Kulkarni has been associated with Juna Akhara for the last two years and she came in contact with Kinnar Akhara for the past two-three months.

Kulkarni has acted in several Bollywood and South Indian films, some of which were hits. She was seen less on screen for the last few years. (PTI)

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