Over 50 lakh people took the first holy bath at Sangam, the meeting place of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the fabled Saraswati rivers, as the Maha Kumbh Mela, the biggest religious gathering in the world, got underway today. The 2025 Maha Kumbh is anticipated to draw 40 crore people. To guarantee the event’s safety and security, more than 100,000 security guards have been sent in.

According to the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), the mega-event is expected to generate over Rs 2 lakh crore in income in addition to its religious and cultural importance. The enormous foot traffic will significantly increase local employment, tourism, and commerce.

If one individual spends Rs 5,000, the event may bring in Rs 2 lakh crore in income from the 40 crore attendees. Accommodation and tourism will account for the majority of this, with local hotels, guesthouses, and short-term lodging options probably bringing in Rs 40,000 crore.

“There will be a lot of commercial and business activity in Mahakumbh. According to one estimate, religious travel would cost more than Rs 2 lakh crore, with each participant paying an average of Rs 5,000. Praveen Khandelwal, the Secretary General of CAIT, was reported by ANI as stating, “This includes spending on hotels, guesthouses, temporary accommodations, food, religious items, healthcare, and other services.”

Furthermore, according to IANS, the total income might exceed Rs 4 lakh crore, with each individual spending up to Rs 10,000. Additionally, it is anticipated to increase real and nominal GDP by more than 1%.

An estimated Rs 20,000 crore is added to the total commerce by the food and beverage industry, which includes packaged goods, drinks, biscuits, juices, and meals.

According to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the state’s economy benefited by Rs 1.2 lakh crore in 2019 from the Prayagraj’s Ardh Kumbh Mela. For this occasion, more than 24 crore people showed up.