During the Maha Kumbh in 2025 on the banks of Sangam in Uttar Pradesh state, millions of pilgrims immersed themselves in the waters of Sangam, expressing their faith. However, the grandeur of this religious event was not limited to the spiritual aspect; the crowds of pilgrims gave a new impetus to the local economy.
Thanks to the income generated during the Maha Kumbh, some were able to pay off their loans, while others expanded their businesses. Many people also started their own ventures using the earnings. For example, for Shankar Lal Yadav, a resident of Prayagraj, the Maha Kumbh 2025 proved extremely beneficial for his business.
Shankar Lal Yadav is an electric tuk-tuk driver. To increase his family's income, he took out a loan of about 2 million 15 thousand rupees to purchase an electric tuk-tuk. Initially, repaying the monthly payments for this loan was a serious problem for him, but his financial situation improved thanks to the Maha Kumbh. The increase in the number of pilgrims increased the demand for electric tuk-tuks, and Shankar Lal Yadav worked day and night, transporting pilgrims to their destinations. As a result, he was able to repay half of his loan amount from this earnings.
For Gautam Nishad, who earns a living operating a boat in the same Sangam area, the Maha Kumbh was also a memorable event. He reported that the demand for his boat during the Maha Kumbh was so high that he earned a very good income. He noted that during regular fairs, he earned 20-30 thousand rupees, whereas during the three months of the Maha Kumbh, he earned between 50 thousand and 100 thousand rupees.
Laal Sahab from Prayagraj also purchased a car on credit. During the Maha Kumbh, he transported pilgrims from the railway station to their final destination. He said that he earned good money during this period and, as a result, was able to pay off his debt. Laal Sahab emphasized that his financial condition significantly improved due to working with the car during the Maha Kumbh, allowing him not only to repay the loan but also to save money.
The Maha Kumbh provided opportunities for self-employment to many people. Sanjay Singh from Prayagraj previously rented and drove someone else's car in Gujarat. During the Maha Kumbh, he returned to Prayagraj and started driving a rented car. By working day and night during the Maha Kumbh, he accumulated a certain amount of money. These funds allowed him to buy his own car, and now he lives in Prayagraj, providing his family with work as a driver.
The benefits of the Maha Kumbh were not only enjoyed by boat and transport drivers but also by local landlords and traders. Aditya Pataka from Prayagraj runs a business providing his vacant house as a guesthouse during the Maha Kumbh, which brought him significant income.
Similarly, hotel owners also received substantial profits during the Maha Kumbh. Harjinder Singh, a well-known hotel entrepreneur in the city, reported that the demand for rooms at his hotel sharply increased during the Maha Kumbh. Not a single one of his rooms remained empty for a single day. According to him, the large number of pilgrims and tourists led to a significant enrichment of the hotel business, giving it a new impetus.
During the Maha Kumbh period, the Municipal Corporation and the Tourism Department carried out the development and improvement of many religious and tourist sites in Prayagraj. Efforts were intensified to develop and improve the infrastructure of places such as Hanuman Temple, Akshavat, and Baradwaj Ashram. This benefited the pilgrims and tourists arriving in the city. A large number of people visited these religious sites and attractions along with bathing in Sangam, which also brought significant income to local vendors, transport workers, and small traders nearby.
