New Delhi: The Maha Kumbh – the world’s biggest religious congregation — is set to generate up to Rs 2 lakh crore in economic growth with an expected 40 crore devotees attending the gala event in Prayagraj. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said this while speaking at the ‘Divine Uttar Pradesh: The Must Visit Sacred Journey’ conclave.
The CM has also highlighted the economic impact of the Maha Kumbh, while pointing out that the 2019 event went a long way in contributing Rs 1.2 lakh crore to the state’s economy.
Besides, Adityanath revealed that in 2024, over 16 crore devotees had visited the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, while more than 13.55 crore devotees had visited Ayodhya between January and September.
The Maha Kumbh Mela, scheduled from January 13 to February 26, will showcase India’s ancient cultural and religious traditions on a global platform. Underlining the spiritual and societal significance of the Maha Kumbh, he stressed that the event is not merely a religious gathering but a symbol of social and spiritual unity. He dubbed the Maha Kumbh as the world’s largest temporary city, with an expected capacity to house between 50 lakh and one crore devotees at any given time.
‘These individuals thrive on division’
He hit out at those who take pride in the legacy of foreign invaders instead of embracing India’s rich and glorious heritage. “These individuals thrive on division — whether by caste, region, language or other factors — and use such divides for political gain expecting a constructive approach from them would be futile,” the CM was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. Adityanath pointed out that such people fail to recognise and realise the importance of the Maha Kumbh and the transformation of sacred sites like Ayodhya, Kashi, and Mathura-Vrindavan.
Adityanath said that the people of the state are honoured to present India’s rich spiritual heritage to the world through the upcoming Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj. He averred that, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, India’s spiritual roots are being celebrated on a global scale. The CM dubbed the Maha Kumbh as a monumental spiritual event and said it is a grand, divine and digitally advanced gathering, where faith and modernity blend.
