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This is an archive article published on March 5, 2025
Boat-owning family in UP raked in Rs 30 crore in 45 days of Mahakumbh, claims Yogi Adityanath
According to Yogi Adityanath, the Mahra family, operators of 130 boats, generated between Rs 50,000 and 52,000 per boat each day throughout the festival.
The Maha Kumbh, held every twelve years, is a magnet for millions of Hindu pilgrims who gather at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers for ritual bathing (PTI File) .
When Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took the floor of the state’s Legislative Assembly this week, he cited an extraordinary success story: a family of boatmen in Prayagraj who reportedly earned Rs 30 crore in just 45 days during the Maha Kumbh Mela that took place in Prayagraj between January 13 and February 26.
The story was used by Adityanath to counter Opposition claims that the festival had led to the ‘exploitation’ of boatmen . Instead, he presented it as evidence of the transformative economic power of one of the world’s largest religious gatherings.
Breaking down the numbers
According to the Chief Minister, the Mahra family, operators of 130 boats, generated between Rs 50,000 and 52,000 per boat each day throughout the festival. By the end of the event, each boat had earned roughly 2.3 lakh, adding up to the staggering final figure.
The Maha Kumbh, held every twelve years, is a magnet for millions of Hindu pilgrims who gather at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers for ritual bathing. The influx of devotees drives a vast network of economic activity, benefiting a wide range of sectors including transportation, hospitality, and food services.
The state government had allocated Rs 7,500 crore rupees to the festival’s infrastructure and management, an investment that, according to Adityanath, generated nearly Rs 3 lakh crore in business. Major beneficiaries included the hotel industry (Rs 40,000 crore), food and daily essentials (Rs 33,000 crore), and transportation (Rs 1.5 lakh crore).
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