Faith and the Economy
The Kumbh Mela Economy
How the Kumbh Mela, one of the world's largest gatherings, creates a temporary city, generates huge spending and challenges planners.
The Kumbh Mela is one of the largest gatherings of people on Earth.
Scale
The Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj in January-February 2025 drew an estimated 60 crore visits over about six weeks, according to the Uttar Pradesh government.
A temporary city
Authorities build a pop-up city with:
- Roads, pontoon bridges and lighting.
- Tents and camps.
- Toilets, water and waste management.
- Hospitals, police and fire services.
Economic impact
- Government spending on infrastructure, running into thousands of crores.
- Spending by pilgrims on travel, food, lodging and religious items.
- Jobs for boatmen, vendors, drivers and workers.
- The state government estimated a large boost to its economy from the 2025 Maha Kumbh.
Challenges
- Crowd safety: a stampede during the 2025 Maha Kumbh killed dozens of people.
- Sanitation and river pollution.
- Transport overload.
Lessons for urban planning
Planners and researchers, including at Harvard, have studied the Kumbh as a model of rapid temporary city-building.
A Prayagraj boatman earns more during six weeks of the Maha Kumbh than in several ordinary months, ferrying pilgrims to the confluence.
The Kumbh generates huge spending and jobs.
- The 2025 Maha Kumbh drew an estimated 60 crore visits.
- Authorities build a temporary city.
- It generates large spending and jobs.
- Crowd safety and sanitation are major challenges.
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