A young garland seller at the Maha Kumbh Mela (the world’s largest religious festival) venue in Uttar Pradesh, has become a viral sensation on social media not just for her startling beauty but also the troubles that have come with fame.
Moni Bhosle’s beauty, charm and glittering eyes won millions of hearts after videos of her selling rudraksh malas (prayer beads) in Prayagraj went viral.
Social media users compared the 16-year-old girl’s looks to those of Mona Lisa, the fictional subject of Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic painting. Social media users soon gave Moni the nickname “Mona Lisa”.
However, Moni was forced to return to her hometown of Indore in Madhya Pradesh after the sudden fame hampered her ability to earn a living.
Social media users were particularly drawn to her striking amber eyes, sharp nose and dusky complexion. She drew widespread admiration, which adversely impacted her ability to earn a living.
Rather than purchasing garlands, crowds and social media influencers flocked to her stall, only to click selfies and videos.
One video showcased the nuisance that was created when a large crowd of men gathered at her stall to take photos and videos of her.
The video, which has since garnered over 2.3 million views, also shows Moni’s family protecting her from the crowd as she covered her face with a scarf.
The chaos prompted Moni’s father to take the difficult step of sending her back to her home city.
According to the Free Press Journal, her increasing fame decreased sales in her business.
“People were after Moni all the time,” her younger sister Vidya told Republic World. “It became difficult for her to sell garlands. Our father decided it was best for us to go home for now.”
Addressing the issue, Congress party’s Karnataka general secretary Lavanya Ballal Jain wrote on X: “How disgusting are Indian men? A poor family from Madhya Pradesh goes to the Kumbh to sell garlands for a living, but the sinners who went to wash away their sins became so fascinated that the family had to leave the area.”
The videos have not stopped. One clip shows Moni complaining about people spreading rumours that she has earned millions after going viral – when the reality is not the case.
In another footage, she jokes that she would take photos only with those who bought her garlands.
On Tuesday, Moni shared a video on her Instagram of her cutting a birthday cake while people around her sing “Happy Birthday”.
“Thank you so much for all your love for me,” she wrote in the caption.
Her Instagram profile has nearly 200,000 followers.
