Maha Kumbh's crowd mgmt strategies can be replicated in temples: Expert
Prayagraj: The 2025 Maha Kumbh is poised to set a benchmark for future religious events. Experts who participated in the Kumbh Fellow Learning Program at Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology here on Saturday recognised the potential of the Prayagraj Maha Kumbh as a model for temple management across the country.
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Temples are revered not only as places of worship but also as vibrant representations of India's spiritual and cultural essence, embodying the nation's religiosity, cultural prosperity, and social harmony. Suresh Haware, a noted temple management expert, emphasised that the crowd management strategies employed during the Maha Kumbh, such as e-queue management, CCTV surveillance, and IT-based administration, can be adapted to manage large gatherings at major temples.
He also highlighted the need to train a dedicated workforce in temple management to effectively implement these innovations.
Anubhav Rawat, the program's nodal officer, outlined the structure of the Kumbh Fellow Learning Program, which consisted of three sessions. The first session featured Prof. RS Verma, the institute's director, as the chief guest, followed by a lecture by Haware on Maha Kumbh and temple management. In the second session, three Kumbh Fellows shared their experiences and insights from the Maha Kumbh, with WG Prasanna offering his perspectives as the chief guest.
The third session saw the remaining Kumbh Fellows presenting their findings. A total of 46 Kumbh Fellows participated in the program, which also had SDM Abhinav Pathak and regional tourist officer Aparajita Singh in attendance.
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Business Standard
10 hours ago
- Business Standard
Maha Kumbh sparked ₹500 cr tax surge in UP, spurred economic growth: Report
The 45-day Maha Kumbh held in Prayagraj has proven to be more than just a massive religious gathering — it has become a significant economic event for Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state. Attracting about 66 crore pilgrims, the mela is said to have generated substantial revenue for the state government, driven largely by a sharp increase in tax collections and fuel sales, a MoneyControl report said on Saturday. Official figures, accessed by the news portal, reveal that the Maha Kumbh contributed around ₹500 crore in additional Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Value Added Tax (VAT) to the state exchequer. A senior official from the tax department is quoted as saying, "The Maha Kumbh has contributed around ₹500 crore in additional GST/VAT to the state exchequer, clearly reflecting the scale and reach of this religious and cultural phenomenon." In the first two months of 2025 alone — January and February — tax collections from sectors directly tied to the event totalled ₹239.47 crore. Prayagraj was the highest contributor, generating ₹146.4 crore, while other religious centres like Varanasi, Ayodhya, and Noida also saw increased collections. Sector-wise contributions Sectorally, Indian Railways led the way with ₹124.6 crore in tax contributions. Tent houses and advertising together generated ₹9.38 crore, while the hotel industry added ₹7.12 crore. An increase in air travel across the state resulted in ₹68.37 crore in taxes. In Prayagraj itself, ₹2.15 crore was collected through tax deducted at source (TDS), with another ₹9.3 crore pending clearance. Local bodies like the Public Works Department (PWD) and Nagar Nigam also played a part in boosting revenue. The financial impact extended well beyond Prayagraj. Noida reported ₹12 crore in collections, primarily from hotels and online travel platforms. Varanasi added ₹8.42 crore and Ayodhya ₹2.28 crore, as per the report. The rise in digital travel bookings and the hospitality industry highlighted the growing role of religious tourism in the state's economy. Fuel sales reflect increased mobility Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) data for January and February 2025 shows a notable jump in fuel consumption. Petrol sales in Prayagraj surged by 81.95% in February alone — rising from 6,058 kilolitres last year to 11,022.5 kilolitres. January saw a rise from 5,253 kilolitres to 7,157 kilolitres. One kilolitre is equal to 1,000 litres. Diesel consumption also grew. January sales increased from 10,204 to 12,428 kilolitres, while February sales climbed to 13,777.5 kilolitres from 11,061 kilolitres. This reflects an overall fuel volume increase of over 11,800 kilolitres across both months. The economic ripple effect touched smaller businesses too. As many pilgrims travelled in private vehicles, the demand at roadside eateries, small hotels, and fuel stations surged — especially in and around Prayagraj, Varanasi, and Ayodhya, as well as along key highways. While much of this informal activity goes unrecorded in tax data, it contributed significantly to the local economy. Return on government spending The Uttar Pradesh government allocated around ₹7,500 crore towards the Maha Kumbh. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath defended the expenditure, stating, 'If an investment of ₹7,500 crore by the Central and state governments can generate economic activity worth ₹3 to ₹3.5 trillion, isn't it a wise investment?' An estimate by the Confederation of All India Traders supported this, suggesting that if every pilgrim spent ₹5,000 during their visit, the overall economic value of the mela would reach ₹2 trillion.
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Time of India
Maha Kumbh 2025: The divine catalyst behind India's rise as the world's 4th largest economy
(File photo) Maha Kumbh By: Pankaj Jaiswal India has made a historic leap by overtaking Japan to become the world's fourth-largest economy, with a GDP of $4.19 trillion, as per the latest figures released by IMF. While this milestone is the result of long-term policy vision and economic reforms, Maha Kumbh 2025 played a decisive, game-changing role delivering the "economic sixer" that clinched India's fourth-place position. For the past two years, India and Japan were neck and neck in the race for fourth place. But the grand Maha Kumbh held in Prayagraj injected massive momentum into India's economy. The event led to an estimated Rs 4 lakh crore in direct and indirect spending, boosting consumption across multiple sectors including retail, transport, hospitality, healthcare, digital services, MSMEs, and FMCG. This surge in demand energized the economy much like a wartime production boom transforms a nation's industrial output. Consequently, India's GDP for FY 2024–25 exceeded expectations by nearly 1%. Without Maha Kumbh 2025, India may have narrowly missed this milestone. I had already said at the start of the Kumbh that it would revise India's GDP forecast by 1% and that's exactly what happened." Maha Kumbh- A Demand-Driven Economic Injection Maha Kumbh didn't just offer spiritual upliftment it acted as an economic stimulus of unparalleled magnitude. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo The influx of millions of pilgrims led to a direct surge in travel, accommodation, food, shopping, medical care, and digital transactions. It wasn't just a temporary bump, the infrastructure created in the run-up to the event, such as roads, bridges, digital connectivity, Ganga rejuvenation, and Smart City projects, continue to benefit the region and the country at large. This was not a coincidence, but a result of visionary governance. Under the leadership of UP CM Yogi Adityanath, the Maha Kumbh became a powerful demonstration of how faith and economic growth can walk hand-in-hand. The global audience witnessed Sanatan Economics in action a model where spirituality and sustainability drive structural development. Maha Kumbh is a prime example of India's festival-driven, demand-led economic framework that maintains constant economic dynamism. The Three Pillars of India's Rise as a Forth Economy In addition to this Maha Kumbh, India's ascent to the fourth spot stands on three core pillars: 1. Strong Policy and Leadership Under PM Narendra Modi, India's policy framework Make in India, Digital India, UPI, GST, PM GatiShakti, Bharatmala, Sagarmala, UDAN has re-energized productivity, reduced imports, boosted domestic manufacturing, and modernized supply chains. Infrastructure push played a pivotal role just like a skeleton and arteries are essential for the human body, physical infrastructure and logistics are vital to an economy. Nitin Gadkari has played vital role in India's infrastructure landscape, bringing in equitable distribution of opportunities and investments. 2. India's Youthful and Festive Population India's population is not a burden but an asset, unlike many African nations or even China now facing demographic challenges. This demographic dividend has become the engine of production, consumption, and innovation. With schemes like Ayushman Bharat, Skill India, and PM Vishwakarma, the youth is becoming increasingly empowered. India's festive culture acts as a perpetual economic catalyst, where events like festivals, marriages, and pilgrimages create sustained demand and protect the economy from global slowdowns. 3. India's Unmatched Growth Rate India's growth rate surpasses that of its economic competitors. As per IMF data, the closest rival, China, lags with a 4% growth rate. Germany, the third-largest economy, has near-stagnant growth. The U.S. stands at 1.8%, Japan at 0.6%, and the UK at 1.1%. In contrast, India's growth, powered by infrastructure, demographics, and festive demand, is robust and dynamic. When this is paired with Sanatan Economics and national culture, India's rise becomes inevitable. The Road to the Top 3 India's next goal is to break into the global top 3. Only three countries now stand ahead, Germany, China, and the US. Surpassing Germany is achievable, given their smaller population, lower growth, and limited consumption base. However, overtaking China and the US will require two bold strategic shifts. First, A National Movement for Swadeshi (Indigenous Products) Due to WTO rules, the government cannot directly push for Swadeshi, but citizens can voluntarily shift to Indian products over Chinese or American ones. This consumer revolution can substantially lift the domestic economy. Second, Focus on Innovation and Patents India must transform its businesses into innovation-led, IP-rich enterprises. Global premium pricing and economic superiority will come only when India builds a knowledge economy and this is the only path to match or surpass the U.S. The final conclusion is that the Sanatan Economics is India's Silent Strength. It is not just a matter of faith, it has economic force too. If India integrates its festival-driven economy into national planning and scales it up strategically, then the dream of becoming a developed nation is not far off. (Writer is an economist and chartered accountant) Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
Hindustan Times
20 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Mahakumbh ripple effect: GST, VAT collections, fuel sales soar in Uttar Pradesh
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