For religious tourism in India, which is possibly the oldest vertical in our tourism portfolio, this year’s Kumbh Mela could become the renaissance for more of the same, across religions. This pilgrim vertical is now attracting tourists across price points. The branded segment is eyeing this new lucrative market. Airlines are connecting to cities like Prayagraj and Ayodhya.

Former JS and ADG, Ministry of Tourism
The Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj, from Jan 13 to Feb 26, 2025, will be the largest religious congregation ever held anywhere in the world. It is expected that 400 million devotees and visitors will assemble to participate in the forty-day mega event. The event will be held along the banks where three rivers – the confluence of the Ganga, Jamuna and Saraswati rivers, which is called TRIVENI SANGAM (Confluence of three rivers). So, it has been held since time immemorial or certainly since 600 BC from the time of the Vatsa kingdom with its Capital was at Kausambhi, 40 miles upstream XII the Jamuna.
Maha Kumbh is held every twelve years (with and Ardh Kumbh after six years in between) during the auspicious astronomical configuration of the Sun, Moon and Jupiter. The followers of “Sanatana Dharma” as Hindus call their faith, congregate from all parts of India and the world to take a holy bath at Triveni on six specified dates, considered specially auspicious. The dates are
- Paush Purnima – Jan 13 (Full Moon of the Month)
- Makar Sankranti -14 Jan
- Mauni Amavasya – 29 Jan
- Basant Panchami – 3 Feb
- Maghi Purnima 12 Feb (Full moon)
- Maha Shivratri-26 Feb (Night of Shiva)
The main attraction of the Kumbh is the “AKHADAS “which translates into Wrestling Ground or Gymnasium in a modern context. It refers to sects of seers who defend the Hindu or Sanatana “Faith”. Along with discourse on the Holy Texts, seers also impart the art of fighting and warfare to their followers. Their past history of active role in defending Sanatan Dharma from Islamic inroads is a narrative that is impressive. There are 13 AKHADAS / sects that participate in the Kumbh. Of these, seven AKHADAS follow the Shaivite (Shiva) traditions of Adi Shanker Acharya, three follow Vaishnava traditions and two follow Guru Gobind Singh’s son Sri Chand. The tenets and identities of each sect is distinct but their purpose is the same, to defend the Faith. The Maha Kumbh is to make a common platform for the faithful to meet and confer and to give them the opportunity to purify themselves by participating in the Holy Dip at Triveni Sangam and to unify the Faithful and re-dedicate the followers to follow the tenets of Sanatana Dharma.
It is apparent therefore why the Modi Govt at the Centre and the Yogi Adityanath as CM of Uttar Pradesh have together decided to make the Maha Kumbh such a huge Event. Following the redevelopment of the Vishwanath Temple precincts at Varanasi and the Rama Temple at Ayodhya it is the first big opportunity to showcase the Hindu faiths as never before. The scale of the event is mind boggling. 400 projects at a cost of Rs 3800 crores have been taken up. Prime Minister Modi and CM Adityanath have personally taken up the task of ensuring the timely completion of the projects and the arrangements. The Mela Venue has been declared a separate District with full retinue of the government for providing all arrangements for accommodation, transport, public health, hospitals, security, cultural activity etc for 400 million visitors over a forty-day period. New river front roads have been built to link the Mela venue to the city. A new double line railway line and bridge across the Ganga has been built to Varanasi reducing the journey to one hour from three hours. The Airport capacity has been increased four times increasing the number of flights to twenty-eight. Highway links have been upgraded with flyovers to ensure smooth and faster movement of traffic.
The Temple and Ashram of Bharadwaj Muni has been redeveloped and upgraded with life size statue to commemorate one of the great rishis and his renowned ashram against the backdrop of the Allahabad University with its Majestic Indo Saracen architecture. Lord Rama had visited the Ashram on his way from Ayodhya before crossing the Ganga.
The Ramayana relates how Lord Rama with Sita and Lakshman crossed the Ganga at Shringverpur, 40 kilometres upstream on the Ganga on his way to Chitrakoot on exile. Shringverpur Dham is being developed as a destination, being the capital of Nishad Raj (King of Fishermen) where Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshman had spent a night before crossing the Ganga. The story of the boatman who took him across is the theme of many Ramayana narratives. The Allahabad Fort itself is a historical place. Within its walls is the Akshaya Vat, the sacred fig tree mentioned in the Puranas. Also, within its walls is the Ashokan Pillar brought from Kausambi and installed here by Emperor Jehangir. It is also the location where Lord Clive signed the Treaty of Allahabad that gave the East India Company the Diwani of Bengal and also where Lord Canning read out the 1858 Proclamation declaring Queen Victoria as Empress of India.
The Maha Kumbh 2025 at Prayagraj is Prime Minister Modi and CM Yogi Adityanath’s vision to showcase the New India in its new avatar as a world class nation, yet deeply rooted in its glorious and rich past. As someone who grew up in Prayagraj and has been to every Maha Kumbh since 1954, I look forward to a unique experience like no other!
The linkage of Prayagraj with Varanasi and Ayodhya will make it one of the greatest destinations of the world in coming years. Maha Kumbh 2025 will be a great new beginning.
The Government of Uttar Pradesh has made Religious Tourism a priority and plans to develop tourism infrastructure accordingly. Apart from the Maha Kumbh which is already underway, it has announced the Ramayana Circuit with Ayodhya as its Centre, the Krishna Circuit with Mathura as the centre, and the Buddhist Circuit around Gorakhpur and Varanasi. Tourism infrastructure projects for hotels will be encouraged by providing land and tax incentives, tourism transport and travel companies will also get tax incentives. They are targeting 200,000 additional hotels rooms by providing these incentives and Religious Tourist arrivals to reach 4,000,000 per annum, far outpacing the tourist arrivals in the Agra and Taj Mahal Circuit. The industry is responding very positively and many new and innovative projects are under way. Though much of religious will be domestic but increasingly foreign tourists are showing interest.
The Trump punch line after being Elected U.S President- “I am a great fan of Hindu, I am a great fan of India”, is bound to resonate throughout the world.