The Golden Baba, 57, striding proudly on the banks of Ganga while parading his wealth of gold dangling glitteringly from around neck and arms has again caught the fancy of some during the Kanwad Yatra. Though he has been coming to the holy city during the time of the Kanwad Mela for 25 years the sight of the Golden Baba never ceases to leave the people tingling with curiosity. His disciples declared with pride that this is the silver jubilee year of the Baba’s Kanwad Yatra. They, further, disclosed that four kg of gold has been added this year to the golden load the self-proclaimed god man had carried during his pilgrimage last year. This has taken the gold he carries on his person to 20 kg. “We wonder what the enormous load of gold sparkling on the person of a god man signifies. The saints are supposed to renounce gold as gold is equated with everything that hinders the progress of the soul towards renunciation of the worldly desires,” said a curious onlooker.
The Kanwad with which he embarked on the pilgrimage is learnt to have been designed specially by an artisan from Roorkee with Thermocol in golden wrap. The ornaments he wears comprise 22 gold chains with lockets on which pictures of Sri Radha lord Krishna, lord Shiva, lord Rama and some others are embossed. Besides, he is wearing a gold jacket which he seldom puts on.
A team comprising close to 300 people- men, women, children and cops-is accompanying the Baba during his yatra. Sitting atop a SUV, the Baba is being seen waving warmly at the people who cheer him. “The 25th Kanwad pilgrimage of mine has cost me Rs 1.25 crore. This includes the expenses on providing food, accommodation and transport to the people who are accompanying me. Besides, we arrange bhandaras en route for the Kanwadias,” said the Golden Baba.
The gold he is wearing this time is worth Rs 6 crore as per the current market price of the precious yellow metal, informed a companion of the Baba. “The load of gold kept on jumping up with each yatra-12 kg to 14 kg to 16 kg and now to 20 kg,” added his companion while talking to The Pioneer.
Apart from his fetish for gold, Baba also wears a Rolex watch worth Rs 27 lakh and he owns a BMW, three Fortuners, two Audis and two Innova cars which are part of his gaudy cavalcade. Known for his fondness of cars, he takes Jaguar and land Rover on rent for his trip to Haridwar.
Golden Baba or Golden Puri Maharaj from Juna Akhada with his pre-monastic name being Sudhir Makkar had run a garment business before he turned an ‘ascetic’. However, his earlier life was a rags to riches story. He had had his education at a Gurukul when he was six.
Thereafter he had come to Haridwar in search of livelihood. He had sold rosary beads and garments on the pavements of the holy city for years before his luck received a magical lift and his business flourished.
He said he owes his success to the holy city Haridwar and the grace of lord Shiva.