Last Update:29 October 2024 18:15 IST

A video of the 29-year-old spiritual preacher carrying a specially branded bag at the airport went viral, prompting backlash for alleged hypocrisy.

Jaya Kishori faced criticism after a photo of her went viral. (Photo Credit: X)

Reacting to the ongoing controversy over Christian Dior’s ₹2 lakh bag, spiritual orator and bhajan singer Jaya Kishori on Tuesday said she never advocated giving up materialistic desires completely.

A video of the 29-year-old spiritual preacher carrying a specially branded bag at the airport went viral, prompting backlash for alleged hypocrisy.

Applauding critics, Kishori said young people should work hard, earn money and spend it as they wish. “I am a normal girl, I live in a normal house, I live with my family… I tell the same thing to young people, work hard, earn money, give yourself a good life, give your family a good life, and fulfill your dreams,” she told news agency ANI.

However, Kishori said her bag was customized to be leather-free. He emphasized his determination not to use leather. “The bag is a personalized bag. There is no leather inside and it means customized, you can have it made according to your request. That’s why it has my name on it too. I have never used leather and will never use it,” he told ANI.

He also claimed that those who attended his sermons/conferences knew that he never preached giving up worldly desires. “Those who come to my ‘Katha’ know very well that I never say everything is ‘moh maya’, I don’t make money or give up everything,” he told ANI.

After the video went viral, many users criticized Kishori for using a leather bag and accused her of acting contrary, even though she is a spiritual preacher who preaches to people around the world to stay away from materialism and detachment.

A user on

The spiritual singer and preacher has over 12.3 million followers on Instagram alone.

(With inputs from ANI)