Monday,Jan 13,2025: The 45-day Mahakumbh Mela (earlier known as Purna Kumbh) began on Monday on the banks of Sangam in Prayagraj with a million devotees expected to take a dip on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. The Uttar Pradesh government forecasts 400 million visitors between January 13 and February 26, preparing for a logistical challenge of massive proportions.
Although some estimates remain more conservative, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and state officials project that Mahakumbh 2025 could generate Rs 25,000 crore in government revenues and result in a Rs 2 trillion economic spinoff. The event is expected to benefit local self-help groups, artisans, hoteliers, homestay owners, restaurant operators, and food vendors, with major brands such as Dabur, Mother Dairy, and ITC anticipated to spend Rs 3,000 crore.
Official estimates are that the 2019 Kumbh saw participation of 240 million devotees, while the 2013 Purna Kumbh at what was then known as Allahabad had 120 million visitors. The 2016 Kumbh at Ujjain had 75 million devotees visit it.
The Adityanath-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in UP has launched 549 projects, ranging from infrastructure to sanitation, for the Mahakumbh worth Rs 6,900 crore. In 2019, it had launched 700 projects at a cost of Rs 3,700 crore.
The state government has made elaborate arrangements to ensure that the Mahakumbh Mela passes off without any untoward incidents. The successful management of the fair is a crucial part of its narrative to build “brand UP” to achieve its objective of becoming a $ 1 trillion economy.
