- By Tanya Garg
- Thu, 23 Jan 2025 04:35 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Mahakumbh Mela 2025: The well-known Indore garland vendor with amber eyes, Monalisa 'Moni' Bhonsle, has claimed that a bunch of men broke into her tent and took selfies with her even though she refused.
Monalisa recalled in the now viral video that she was approached by some men who said her father had sent them to take pictures with her. She declined, telling them to go see her father alone if he had sent them. She stated that wouldn't want to take photos with them.
प्रयागराज महाकुंभ में माला बेचने आई बंजारा घुमंतू समुदाय की बेटी मोनालिसा और उनके परिवार पर हुआ हमला बेहद निंदनीय है। यह घटना प्रशासन की विफलता और खानाबदोश-घुमंतू समुदायों की सुरक्षा में सरकार की उदासीनता को दर्शाती है। दोषियों पर कड़ी कार्रवाई हो! @dgpup pic.twitter.com/QNPjBy995M
— Hansraj Meena (@HansrajMeena) January 22, 2025
The video featuring Monalisa went viral on X (previously Twitter). Many expressed their disappointment over the troubles she had been going through. One of the users said, "This incident is really very sad and condemnable. The attack on Monalisa, daughter of the Banjara nomadic community, and her family has clearly shown that the safety and respect of many weaker sections have no importance in the eyes of our society and administration."
Another user said, "The attack on a woman and her family, who had come to sell garlands at a religious event like Maha Kumbh, highlights the failure of the administration, which is unable to provide proper security and protection to these communities."
The third user said, "Strict action should be taken against the culprits for this incident. The government and administration should take concrete steps to protect the nomadic communities."
The fourth user said, "Strict action should be taken, no one has the right to interfere in anyone's life."
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Earlier, she was attempting to get away from the throng of people pursuing her while she was spotted in a red ethnic wear. While some of her family members attempted to protect her from the throng of males vying for her attention or to snap her photo, one of them dragged her away. She sat down and covered her face with a dupatta as the video concluded.
Monalisa Bhonsle has a dedicated Instagram feed where videos are frequently released. There are other clips, including her selling garlands, doing interviews and spending her birthday with her family.
View this post on Instagram
For the unversed, Monalisa initially became well-known online after an influencer who was in Mahakumbh 2025 took a video of her and posted it on social media. People were immediately enthralled by her appearance.