The Ganga, hesitantly flowing, prays and pines for mercy, pleading with humanity to keep her pure.
The slum children run around, with black-spotted snot on their faces and bones peeking through their tattered clothes.
They wave their frail, barely-fed hands by the banks of the Ganga, chasing the half-deflated football they picked up floating in the river, discarded by some city kid whining to his dad to buy him a new toy.
The thick, black water dithers in the river, while the vibrant children of the lifeless slums, masked, bring in the devotees, alongside a heavy flow of hard green paper.
The business owners delight in welcoming buses, cars, and rickshaws full of devotees, eagerly placing them in one of their hotels, smiling toward them as if attracting them toward their humble abode—like a welcoming cat, if you will.
Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, predicts earnings will soar beyond $3 billion, with the collective faith of 400 million devotees each expected to spend INR 5,000 ($58).
The refuge, paved by broken pathways and potholes, awaits people ready to rest their bodies on rarely used mattresses covered with freshly washed sheets, steaming with hints of herbal scents.
It offers a sense of rest and homeliness amidst the mayhem. Tired hands and frail bodies, almost withering away, bear red knots on their palms as they hang up tents to shelter the priests and devotees attending the mela, covering the 10,000 acres of land around the holy ceremonial site.
Local vendors, the lifeblood of India’s bustling markets, stand ready to weave their magic.
Their stalls, brimming with vibrant textiles, intricate crafts, and the aroma of spiced delicacies, are more than just shops—they are portals to India’s soul.
Amidst the religious ropes binding the people in the Mahakumbh Mela 2025 lies an economic crusade driven by the faith of around 400 million Hindus, who are believed to have attended the festival starting January 13.
The Mahakumbh is held every 12 years in India at four sacred locations: Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik, and Ujjain, on rotation depending on the alignment of planets with the stars.
This rare celestial alignment has occurred after 144 years, making this festival even more significant.
Devotees, both Hindus and non-Hindus from all over the world, including Nepal, have flown to India with a spiritual yearning to purify their souls, longing to return as new people, inside and out.
As the world gathers, so do investors, their eyes alight with the promise of opportunity.
From overpriced rooms and transportation fares to costly meals, every necessity becomes a luxury, leaving many struggling to afford even a simple meal.
Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, predicts earnings will soar beyond $3 billion, with the collective faith of 400 million devotees each expected to spend INR 5,000 ($58).
This weaves an economic tapestry set to generate a staggering $2 trillion in revenue.
The Uttar Pradesh government, in collaboration with the Central government, has allocated Rs 6,382 crore for the event, with Rs 5,600 crore designated for infrastructure and related projects.
The mela has created jobs for more than 45,000 families in India, giving a substantial boost to the economy over the last few days.
From local businesses and vendors to major entrepreneurs, the food, lodging, and tourism sectors in India are experiencing unprecedented growth, which has made economists skeptical about the predicted revenue by the end of the festival.
Even minorities are attending the event, but for many, unsure of whether they will have a meal tomorrow or face another day of hunger, the $58 expected to be spent may seem like an unattainable luxury.
Past records show that such festivals tend to benefit only a few sectors economically, mainly hospitality and tourism, leaving others barely affected. With a million devotees gathered on the same ground, one can only imagine the chaos and the strain on safety and hygiene.
Complaints have resurfaced about concerns over unclean restrooms, overflowing sewage, and scarce accommodations.
Some families, left without shelter, are forced to sleep beneath the still and dreary sky, the numbing winter breeze wrapping around them as they cling to the only warmth they have—a single, worn shawl brought along for the journey.
Along with the businesses thriving and the economy flourishing, commercialization and soaring prices leave the marginalized struggling to keep pace—helpless, starving, and with only faith driving them forward.
During such grand events, the money-driven mindset of businessmen and suppliers takes over, inflating the prices of goods to double or even triple their usual rates.
From overpriced rooms and transportation fares to costly meals, every necessity becomes a luxury, leaving many struggling to afford even a simple meal.
As a result, some devotees are forced to endure days of hunger, surviving solely on dry food they packed for their journey, stretching their limited resources throughout their stay.
Following the tragic stampede that occurred later in the festival, claiming nearly 30 lives and injuring many more, there are concerns that the predictions for attendance may be affected, as devotees seem hesitant to attend after the incident.
The fear of death surpasses all other fears, including faith, and could lead to fluctuations in the total number of participants in the mela.
Yet, such incidents, though devastating, are not unprecedented in gatherings of this scale.
Strangely, most people remain indifferent to the news. For some, faith exceeds fear; despite the risks, they suppress their fear beneath the belief that the spiritual purification they seek is worth the sacrifice.
Though millions of devotees gather in pursuit of spiritual purity, the mela serves as a testament to a hypothetical engine fueled by the faith of said devotees, helping run the motorbike of India’s economy.
Along with the businesses thriving and the economy flourishing, commercialization and soaring prices leave the marginalized struggling to keep pace—helpless, starving, and with only faith driving them forward.
As the puja cleanses the souls of devotees, can it also wash away the deep-rooted economic and social disparities still prevalent in society?
(Shilpika Sedhain is a Bachelor’s in Economics student at Kathmandu University School of Arts)
