Jose Sanchez
Research expert covering society, economy, & politics for Latin America
Mahakumbh Mela in India - statistics & facts
The world’s largest religious gathering is not just about spirituality. It is also an economy booster, specifically for the state of Uttar Pradesh where it is held. Intitally, an estimated 450 million were expected to take a dip in the Triveni Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati. By the end of the event, however, over 660 million were hosted at Prayagraj. The north Indian city played host to this 45-day event between January and February 2025, underscoring the scale of investment into infrastructure and services necessary to manage this scale of tourism. Estimates put this Kumbh to be the most extravagant one yet.
