PRAYAGRAJ: As Prayagraj is all set to host the biggest-ever Maha Kumbh with an approximate expenditure of Rs 7,500 crore and expected footfall of 40 crore devotees, TOI has scanned the archives to find out how this confluence of faith has grown through the past century.
The archives show that during the 1882 Maha Kumbh, about 8 lakh devotees bathed on Mauni Amavasya, the biggest bath day, when unified India’s population was 22.5 crore. The expenditure was Rs 20,288 (equivalent to Rs 3.6 crore today). The 1894 event saw about 10 lakh participants from a population of 23 crore, with an expenditure of Rs 69,427 (approximately Rs 10.5 crore in current value).
The 1906 Kumbh attracted about 25 lakh people, with an expenditure of Rs 90,000 (at present valued at Rs 13.5 crore) when the population was 24 crore. Similarly, during the 1918 Kumbh, about 30 lakh took holy dip in Sangam, with the population at 25.2 crore. The administration allocated Rs 1.4 lakh (equivalent to Rs 16.4 crore today).
According to historian Prof Yogeshwar Tiwari, a notable incident occurred during the 1942 Kumbh, when the then viceroy & governor general of India, Lord Linlithgow, visited the city with Madan Mohan Malaviya.
“The viceroy was astonished to see lakhs of people from different parts of the country in the Kumbh area, taking a bath in the Sangam and engrossed in religious activities. When he enquired about publicity costs, Malaviya replied, just two paise. He explained by showing the ‘Panchang’, saying the almanac comes for two paisa,” said Tiwari. Malaviya clarified the almanac informed devotees festival dates. According to Tiwari, Malaviya told the Viceroy, “This is not a crowd. This is a confluence of devotees who have unwavering faith in religion.”
