A 16-year-old girl from the world’s biggest fair, Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, is grabbing eyeballs across the country. Who is she? Monalisa Bhonsle, a young woman with a dusky skin tone and amber eyes, is a garland seller at the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025. Hailing from Indore, she and her family came to Maha Kumbh to sell rudraksha malas and do other similar jobs to earn a livelihood. However, in a bizarre turn of events, this family, especially Monalisa, has been caught in the uncalled loop of fame. But how?

Related: Naga Sadhvis: The Silent Spiritual Warriors Of The Maha Kumbh Mela

How did Maha Kumbh’s Monalisa Bhonsle go viral?

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It all began when an influencer shared Monalisa’s photo, appreciating her beautiful features. Her exquisite beauty caught everyone’s attention online which instilled curiosity among people to see her in person. People started comparing her to the famous French painter, Leonardo da Vinci’s painting, Mona Lisa because of her name. Soon, the question of how a girl from an economically weaker family can be pretty kept people awake. But that is not among the most dire concerns presently.

Monalisa represents yet another woman who has been objectified, harassed, and abused. Since an influencer shared her photo, several men and the media have been crowding around her. Her initial positive fame led to people invading her personal space and professional life. No one is there to buy a mala from her. Instead, they want to get clicked with her to boost their social media game. Moreover, men are groping her thinking they own her.

This has recently escalated to the point that Monalisa’s father was forced to leave his work and move back to Indore with his daughter. Recent news reveals how men used her father’s name to enter her tent to get photos with her. They even attacked her brother who tried to protect her from getting harassed. This leads to a bigger question – Why do men reap rewards from their virality and women face harassment?

The gender divide in fame

maha kumbh monalisa

We live in a world where it takes seconds to be in the spotlight. Do you have a unique talent? Bingo! Your social media is now booming with likes and comments from people who didn’t even know about your existence seconds ago. However, not everyone gets recognised for their talent, especially women. The same happened with Monalisa Bhonsle. Her example reminds us of Prachi Nigam, the Class 10 UP Board Topper. The child worked hard for her achievements but was recognised for her facial hair. This wasn’t the case with men who became famous online, like Dolly Chaiwala. His ‘art’ of making tea turned into an overnight success. The fame got him a Lamborghini and a luxurious lifestyle as he served tea to Bill Gates once. How do we measure the success of a common person then?

The harassment Monalisa is facing highlights how society is obsessed with beauty when it comes to acknowledging the existence of a woman. This reduces her to a commodity. In the case of Maha Kumbh’s Monalisa Bhonsle and the board topper Prachi Nigam, their work and intellect get sidelined. Both of them bear the brunt of disgusting beauty standards they didn’t even sign up for in the first place. Can society ever let women be in peace or will it continue to remain a distant dream?

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Related: Maha Kumbh Mela 2025: Significance And Why Devotees Take The Shahi Snan

 

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