Sadhvi Harsha claims receiving offers for religious conversion:Says saints avoid meeting her, leading to statement about quitting religious preaching publicly amid pressure

Harsha Richhariya, who is in the news because of a viral social media video, says she is getting threats and abusive messages after announcing that she is leaving the path of religion. Harsha said that ever since she spoke about quitting religious work, people have been abusing her and making vulgar comments. She also said that people from different religions are sending her messages and asking her to read about their faith and adopt it. In the video, Harsha said with a heavy heart that she is ending her work of religious propagation and returning to her old profession as an anchor. While speaking to Bhaskar, Harsha said that when a girl moves forward on the path of religion, some people try to stop her and pull her down. She shared more about the threats and pressure she is facing since her announcement. Seen with saints in the Peshwai procession at Mahakumbh
Harsha Richharia’s name became a topic of discussion across the country when, on January 4, 2025, during the Prayagraj Mahakumbh, she was seen riding on a chariot with saints in the grand Peshwai procession of Niranjani Akhara. Her photos and videos quickly went viral on social media. People started calling her ‘the most beautiful Sadhvi of Mahakumbh,’ and she became an overnight internet sensation. Along with this fame, controversy also became associated. Some religious gurus, like Shambhavi Peethadhishwar Swami Anand Swaroop Maharaj, objected to this, saying, ‘This is not appropriate. It spreads a wrong message in society. Making religion a part of a performance is dangerous.’ It was from here that a period of difficulties began for Harsha, which she had never even imagined. Harsha said – When her own people started attacking
Harsha says that after gaining fame, she did not receive acceptance in the saint community. Whenever she went to meet a saint, she was made to wait for hours. Her old anchoring profession was viewed with a dirty eye and she was made to feel as if she had committed a great sin in the past. Harsha says, ‘I am proud of my old profession. It gave me my identity. I left everything and chose the path of religion, but here I found doubt instead of support. Our own religious leaders suspect us and we have to give explanations. There is a lack of unity in our religion; everyone is filled with ego.’ Threats are being received and she is being incited to convert
After her announcement to quit religious preaching, this harassment intensified. Harsha stated that she is receiving threatening messages not only from people of other religions but also from some contractors of her own religion. She is being incited to convert. Additionally, an endless stream of obscene messages and abuses has begun. She says, “People are saying that I’ve gained fame and recognition, so now I’m leaving everything. The very people who claim to be protectors of sisters are standing against me today. They are even showing people of other religions how to abuse and threaten me.” Harsha clarified that she is a Sanatani and will always remain one, but she cannot bear this mental anguish any longer. ‘Land not given for camp in Magh Mela’
The biggest setback for Harsha came during the Magh Mela in December 2025. She applied for land allocation to set up her camp at the fair. Initially, the concerned officials assured her and even approved the process. But as soon as some influential saints got wind of it, they started pressuring the officials. Harsha says, ‘Some saints threatened the officials not to give me the land. After this, the officials stopped answering my calls and stopped meeting me. I did not get the land. This incident proved to be the last straw for her. She says that she never took a single penny from devotees, managing everything at her own expense.’ ‘If circumstances change, I will return to this path’
Learning from her experience, Harsha has given important advice to youth and women. She said, “If you want to connect with religion, limit yourself to your family and home temple. Don’t blindly follow anyone. ” Finally, Harsha clarified that she has only given up preaching religion, not Sanatan Dharma. She also said that if a miracle happens in the future and circumstances change, she will not hesitate to return to this path again.