Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) [India]: Inspired by the earnings of boat operators during the 2019 Ardh Kumbh, a boatman’s family in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, took a bold entrepreneurial leap during the recently concluded Mahakumbh Mela 2025, earning an impressive profit of Rs 30 crore.
Pintu Mahara, the head of the family, built 70 boats to serve devotees and pilgrims throughout the 45-day grand religious event. Recalling his journey, Pintu shared on Wednesday how he secured a bank loan and even mortgaged personal jewelry to fund the project. Despite the financial risks, he remained confident that the Mahakumbh would draw millions of devotees, a foresight that eventually paid off.
Pintu attributed his success to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recognizing their support for local businesses during the Mahakumbh. Under Pintu’s leadership, over 300 people worked tirelessly, providing boat rides, bathing arrangements, and other services to the pilgrims. His team also offered free dedicated services to enhance the experience for the visitors.
Expressing his gratitude, Pintu voiced his hope to participate in the next Mahakumbh, 12 years later, under the same leadership. He also dismissed opposition claims of exploitation, emphasizing the positive impact of government policies on local workers and traders.
On Tuesday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath highlighted the extraordinary success of Pintu’s family during a speech at the UP State Legislative Assembly. “A boatman’s family, who owned several boats, earned a total of Rs 30 crore in just 45 days during the Mahakumbh. This means each boat earned Rs 23 lakh over the 45 days, translating to about Rs 50,000-52,000 per day,” CM Yogi stated, refuting allegations by the Samajwadi Party that boatmen were exploited during the event.
Reflecting on his challenges, Pintu spoke of the hardships faced after his father’s demise. “Life was tough. We had to borrow money and mortgage gold to build the boats. Six months of hard work paid off, as our boats became an integral part of the Mahakumbh experience, ferrying thousands of devotees,” he said.
Pintu also expressed a sense of divine blessings, stating, “After Mauni Amavasya, I felt the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi. Under the leadership of PM Modi and CM Yogi, the Mahakumbh became a grand success, making Prayagraj famous worldwide. Our business flourished, and we earned not just money, but the blessings of the people.”
Despite the physical toll, with many team members falling ill due to the demanding workload, Pintu and his crew remained dedicated. “We had 250 people sailing the boats, and my brothers were with me every step of the way. It was hard work, but the experience was priceless,” he added.
Pintu’s mother also expressed her gratitude, saying, “We put in a lot of effort, and Ganga Maiyya listened to us.”
Held on the banks of Sangam in Prayagraj, the Mahakumbh 2025 emerged as a historic and well-organized event, drawing over 66 crore devotees. The grand festival, which started on January 13 (Paush Purnima) and concluded on February 26 (Maha Shivratri), witnessed a record-breaking turnout of pilgrims from across India and the world.