More visitors to attend Maha Kumbh than Rio Carnival, Oktoberfest: UP officials
More visitors will attend the Maha Kumbh 2025 in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj than some of the other major global gatherings like Brazil’s Rio Carnival and Germany’s Oktoberfest.
Uttar Pradesh government officials on Monday said 70 lakh had attended the last Rio Carnival, 25 lakh had gathered for the Haj pilgrimage and 72 lakh celebrated Oktoberfest.
Visitation at the ongoing Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj is, however, projected at 45 crore, including 15 lakh foreigners.
The officials were speaking at a special briefing MEA and UP government organised today for foreign correspondents covering the largest religious gathering in the world.
In the 2019 Kumbh, there were 25 crore visitors.
The officials—Sanjeev Singh, OSD to Chief Minister of UP Yogi Adityanath, Awanish Kumar Awasthi, CM’s Adviser, Shishir, Director Information, UP; Mrityunjay Kumar, Media Adviser to the Chief Minister—also said Maha Kumbh was projected to boost the economy up to Rs 2 lakh crore.
Uttar Pradesh’s GDP alone is expected to grow by over 1%, with trade in daily essentials projected at Rs 17,310 crore; hotel and travel sectors expected to reach Rs 2,800 crore and religious materials and flowers market projected to generate Rs 2,000 crore and Rs 800 crore, respectively.
UP’s outreach was part of state government’s plans to celebrate and project the Maha Kumbh, expected to attract a million devotees from around the world and came a day after a fire at the Maha Kumbh Tent City gutted 18 tents. There were no casualties.
The outreach was organised jointly by the Ministry of External Affairs and Uttar Pradesh government and highlighted the spiritual and cultural significance of the Maha Kumbh scheduled from January 13 to February 26.