Prayagraj: Over 44 days, Magh Mela 2026 not only shattered all previous records for crowd turnout, but the massive influx of devotees also unlocked a thriving marketplace of small, medium and large businesses across the mela campus.Estimates from trade and commerce agencies ranked Magh Mela 2026 among the highest employment- and business-generating Magh melas ever. The Magh Mela, which had already set a remarkable precedent with its record budget for construction and infrastructure, also gave a significant boost to business activity in the mela area.Mahendra Goyal, state president of the Confederation of All India Trade (CAIT), said that this year the footfall of devotees and tourists over the 44 days benefited both registered and unregistered shopkeepers in the mela area. Goyal added that the mela administration claimed that over 22 crore devotees visited the mela area during 44 days of Magh Mela. If each person spent Rs 50 to Rs 60 on any item at the fair, the figure reached approximately Rs 1,196 rupees. He added, “The Confederation of All India Traders also estimates a turnover of Rs 700 crore alone in the four market zones developed by the mela administration.”The Magh Mela administration allocated shops in the mela area to facilitate the easy movement of devotees and meet their basic needs. Mela Adhikari Rishiraj said that the Triveni Bazaar food court and entertainment zone were created in the Parade Ground. Both large and small shopkeepers were allotted these shops in the mela area. On one hand, it provided employment to 30,000 to 35,000 people, while on the other hand, it generated revenue for the mela administration. Over 21,000 shops, both large and small, were set up in the mela area.Goyal, said that this year the Magh Mela generated more revenue from the food and hospitality sectors because these were needs that devotees found easier to fulfil within the mela area. Furthermore, travel was a major sector, which noticed a significant increase due to the number of devotees.The shops displayed at the Khadi department’s exhibition during the parade also achieved record sales. According to a report released by the administration, this year the Khadi department generated sales of over Rs 10 crore in 44 days.The administration and trade union agencies said that the primary reason for this boom in business at the Magh Mela was the branding of Maha Kumbh 2025, which gave it global recognition.
