Unilever CEO Paul Polman & wife attend aarti, take a dip in Ganga

Unilever's CEO Paul Polman once wanted to be ordained as a priest. So the spiritual seeker in him was delighted during a recent visit to Haridwar, which houses some of HUL's factories.

HUL officials reveal that Polman was intrigued by the history and culture of Haridwar and the Ganga. The trip turned out to be more than just business as Polman, who is Dutch, and his American wife Kim stayed back for another day. During that time, the two attended the famous aarti held on the banks of the Ganga, after which they took a dip in the river.

Polman says the experience was enlightening. "I loved that place. It was a spiritual and a reawakening experience. It is amazing to see how it is a place teeming with several people going through their prayers and rituals in such an orderly way," he says.

The CEO is a climate change crusader who has been credited with re-energising the consumer giant and making a case for building a business with purpose. Polman first visited India in 2008. That year, he narrowly escaped the 26/11 terrorist attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai, where he was sharing a handover meal with Unilever's previous CEO, Patrick Cescau.