Tuk-Tuk rides to desi boats: How Maha Kumbh turned out to be a big business for locals in Prayagraj

Prayagraj: 'Har Har Mahadev' chants filled the air when millions of devotees took a holy dip at Triveni Sangam on Mahashivratri.

The largest event of the century, which began on January 13, has already witnessed a staggering footfall of over 64 crore devotees. The 45-day Maha Kumbh is set to conclude on Wednesday

Being the last auspicious 'snan' of Maha Kumbh, the banks of the Sangam saw an overwhelming rush of devotees as early as 2 AM, with many choosing to take their holy dip during Brahma Muhurta.

On Tuesday alone, a total of 1.33 crore devotees bathed at the Sangam and other ghats within the Mela area, pushing the overall footfall of Maha Kumbh 2025 beyond 64 crore. The numbers on Wednesday are expected to surpass those recorded the previous day.

Government officials have reported that, on average, over 1 crore devotees have been bathing daily at the Triveni Sangam. While people from across the world continue to flock for the sacred dip, two contrasting sides of the Kumbh experience emerge at the ghats.

Bikes and Tuk-Tuks: A Lifeline for Pilgrims

Navigating the Kumbh Mela to reach the ghats for a holy dip often means walking nearly 10 km from the main roads. For those arriving via railway stations, bus terminals, or hotels, tuk-tuks (three-wheeled motorized vehicles) proved to be a savior. Each tuk-tuk, accommodating up to seven passengers, became the preferred mode of transport for many pilgrims.

According to the tuk-tuk driver, all the drivers from across Uttar Pradesh, and nearby villages came to Prayagraj just for Maha Kumbh.

However, devotees had to pay significantly higher fares than usual. For a 9 km ride to the ghat, charges ranged between ₹100 and ₹150 per person—far exceeding the usual ₹30 on regular days.

"We couldn't walk through the vast Kumbh Mela area, and only tuk-tuks could get inside. For a short 2 km stretch from Naga Vasuki Temple to the ghat, we paid ₹50 per head. After taking a dip, we had to pay ₹160 per person for a 6 km ride. Bargaining was out of the question—you either took the ride or walked," shared Anuradha, a devotee from Karnataka.

Locals Make the Most of the Opportunity

For local residents, two-wheelers turned into a lucrative business during the Kumbh. Hundreds of locals, including those from nearby villages, provided transport services on their bikes, offering rides both within the ghat areas and on the city's outskirts. As soon as visitors entered the premises, bikers surrounded them with offers. For distances of around 5 km, they charged between ₹50 and ₹150 per head.

"Most of us are locals or from nearby villages. We’re using this opportunity to earn money during the Kumbh," said Kumar, a biker from a village near Prayagraj.

Boats Charging Exorbitant Prices

While some devotees managed their pilgrimage within their means, others had to pay hefty prices for boat rides to the Triveni Sangam. The Yamuna riverbanks were lined with hundreds of boats, ferrying devotees for a holy dip at the Sangam. A half-hour boat ride costs between ₹1,500 and ₹2,000 per person, with special boats charging even more. Passengers were provided life jackets before being taken to the confluence, where the boats briefly stopped for devotees to bathe.

"Triveni Sangam is the sacred confluence of three rivers, so many prefer to take a dip there rather than at the overcrowded ghats. Since the rush at the regular ghats was overwhelming, we had to opt for a boat. We paid ₹2,000 per person, but the charges are much lower on regular days. Many boat operators are just exploiting the situation," lamented Ramesh, a devotee from Mumbai.

Women Struggled with Inadequate Changing Facilities

One of the major issues women faced at the Kumbh Mela was the lack of well-maintained changing rooms. Many facilities provided by the government were in poor condition, making it difficult for women to change clothes after their holy dip.

Thankfully, some local staff set up portable tents, charging ₹50 per person for privacy.

"The government has set up changing rooms near the ghats, but they are in terrible condition due to misuse by devotees. People leave behind clothes, sanitary napkins, and other waste, making the rooms unhygienic. I was assigned cleaning duty at the Kumbh, but I got exhausted cleaning the rooms every day. So, I bought a changing tent myself and started renting it out for ₹50 per use," shared a sanitation worker near Sangam Ghat.

Water bottles - a great business:

Among the many businesses at the Kumbh Mela, selling empty bottles has done great business in the ghat areas.

The majority of the devotees who came for the holy dip made sure to buy a minimum of 2 big plastic bottles or 4 small bottles. The bottle cost ranged between Rs 70 - Rs 200.