A Meeting at the Ashram, a Marriage Proposal the Very Next Day—How Did the Love Story of the 'Kumbh IIT Baba' and Prateeka Begin?

The love story of Abhay Singh—the "IITian Baba" who garnered significant attention during the 2025 Mahakumbh after turning down a lucrative, six-figure job package following his degree in Aerospace Engineering from IIT Bombay—is currently making just as many headlines. On Mahashivratri in 2025, he met Preetika, a researcher in astronomy, at an ashram located in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

Owing to their shared intellectual outlook, Abhay proposed marriage to Preetika on just the second day of their acquaintance. Initially, the proposal was perceived as a joke; however, as time passed, the relationship evolved into a serious commitment. After remaining in contact and taking the time to understand one another for nearly a year, the couple decided to tie the knot.

On February 15th—the day of Mahashivratri—the couple first solemnized their marriage in a temple ceremony, followed by a civil marriage registration in court. On Monday, the newlyweds arrived at Sasrauli, Abhay's ancestral village in Jhajjar, where his family welcomed them with traditional rituals. A Griha Pravesh (home-entry) ceremony was subsequently performed for Preetika, who hails from Karnataka.

In the Spotlight at Mahakumbh: Scientific Interpretation Becomes His Hallmark

During the 2025 Mahakumbh, Abhay Singh presented religion and spirituality through a scientific lens. He elucidated various religious concepts by drawing upon examples from quantum physics and neuroscience. Through the medium of social media, his message reached a vast audience of young people. His IIT background—combined with his simple lifestyle and his logical, rational approach to presenting ideas—kept him at the center of public discourse.