As Maha Kumbh ends, Yogi rebranded as Hindutva icon

Maha Kumbh, the world's largest gathering, concluded in Prayagraj on Wednesday, signalling the organisational capacity of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, widely being billed as the rising star in saffron politics and a poster boy for Sanatan Dharma.

Not too long ago, Yogi's place in the BJP hierarchy had come under question after the party's below-par performance in the 2024 General Election in the country's largest state. But with the conclusion of Maha Kumbh, which the BJP and Sangh Parivar-affiliates have termed the celebration of "Sanatan traditions and Hindu unity", Yogi has reclaimed a prominent place in saffron politics.

Over 64.77 crore people visited Prayagraj for the holy bath during the 45-day festival that was marred by a tragic stampede that killed 30 on Mauni Amavasya day on January 29.

The fatal lapse placed Yogi and his machinery under lens but the state government rallied its agencies fast enough to recover from the setback and handle pilgrim rush better as days went by. From President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to foreign diplomats and globally acclaimed travel writers, the UP city hosted all.

After January 29, the Mahakumbh gathering remained event free with all holy bath days passing off calmly and the Chief Minister declaring this week that the festival would provide a huge booster to UP's economy.

"The Maha Kumbh alone is going to help UP's economy grow by over Rs 3 lakh crore. The potential of UP which the world is witnessing today can be linked to the Maha Kumbh festival as the state makes steady strides to become a one trillion dollar economy," said Yogi.

With Prayagraj hosting 64.77 crore people -- more than the population of all countries barring India and China -- Yogi placed his state at the centre of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious target of making India a USD 5 trillion economy in his third term.

Economics apart, the gathering's principal element remained faith, with Yogi managing to bill the festival as the largest marker of "Hindu unity."

"Mahakumbh is not just a religious gathering but a testament to Hindu unity and diversity...Half of the world's 120 crore Sanatan Dharma followers have taken the holy dip," he said.

Throughout the festival, Yogi ensured the state government was adequately engaged with global media to frame the significance of the largest human gathering for the world stage. The UP Government even held a special MEA facilitated briefing on the Maha Kumbh with foreign journalists.

Casting himself as the Hindutva icon in the RSS-led Sangh Parivar of which BJP is the political core, Yogi pitched Mahakumbh as the microcosm of the Hindu world with several ideologues of the Hindu faith describing the UP CM as a "global proponent of Sanatan Dharma."