The (Maha) Economics Of The Kumbh

The world’s largest public gathering—the Maha Kumbh—has begun.

A quick search on Google trends, too, shows a surge in interest for the Maha Kumbh and Prayagraj, where it is being held.

What are people searching for? Prayagraj main kumbh mela kab lagega (When will the Kumbh mela be held at Prayagraj?), shahi snan dates, the distance between Delhi and Prayagraj, hotel bookings in Prayagraj, Prayagraj tent bookings etc. are some that figure among the top asks.

With the government estimating 40 crore devotees to descend to Prayagraj between Jan. 13 to Feb. 26, the push on spending is across sectors.

For air travel, the government has partnered with Alliance air for direct flights from cities such as Kolkata, Jabalpur, Bhubaneshwar, Guwahati, Dehradun and Chandigarh, apart from metros including New Delhi and Mumbai.

Flights from Mumbai to Prayagraj currently cost about Rs 9,300, almost two times as much as they will cost in March—after the event ends. Flights from Delhi to Prayagraj currently range between Rs 5,500 to Rs 10,000, compared to Rs 3,000-5,000 post the Kumbh dates.

While, the Indian Railways is operating over 3,100 special trains in addition to 10,000 regular trains, according to a government release. The state government is also offering Kumbh Mela special buses to ply devotees to the event.

For stay, travel aggregator sites such as Skyscanner show a large range of options, that range up to half a lakh rupees for a day for homestays with two-three bedrooms that can accommodate more people, while luxury tents by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corp., are available for reservation for about Rs 20,000 a night.

The Ministry of Tourism has also collaborated with stakeholders, including the Uttar Pradesh State Tourism Development Corp., IRCTC, and ITDC to offer other curated tour packages and luxury accommodation options.

The event is also expected to host 15,000 artists, including concerts by Shankar Mahadevan, Mohit Chauhan, and Kailash Kher, and week-long productions by the National School of Drama and Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra dancers, performing across multiple stages in Prayagraj.

Along with artists and exhibitors, the state government is also collaborating with photographers, social media influencers, and digital content creators to document the event.

Infrastructure projects such as the construction of the Ganga bridge, along with the doubling of the Varanasi-Madhosingh-Prayagraj railway line and the Phaphamau-Janghai line, have also been completed, according to press releases by the government.

”Searches for Prayagraj on MakeMyTrip have surged by over 23 times year-on-year as devotees from across India plan their journey to Maha Kumbh," Rajesh Magow, co-founder and Group CEO, MakeMyTrip said.

Travel demand is particularly high during the event’s opening and closing week, with devotees seeking immersive experiences closer to the heart of the Maha Kumbh, he added.

The Confederation of All India Traders has estimated that this Maha Kumbh will generate trade exceeding Rs 2 lakh crore, with an average expenditure of Rs 5,000 per person, including spending on hotels, guesthouses, temporary accommodations, food, religious items, healthcare, and other services.