Pilgrims fleeced as costs soar at Maha Kumbh
With an unprecedented 45 Crore devotees converging at the Sangam for the Maha Kumbh, pilgrims are facing severe price gouging for essential services. From exorbitant boat fares to overpriced food and transport, those arriving with faith and devotion are being forced to shell out thousands even before stepping foot into the sacred ghats.
A boat ride to the Sangam, which is officially priced at `150 per person, has become a luxury few can afford. Boatmen are demanding anywhere between `1,000 and `1,500, leaving pilgrims with little choice. “This is extortion in the name of religion,” fumed Ashok Verma, who had come from Lucknow with his family. “We wanted to take a holy dip, not be robbed blind!”
Some pilgrims, especially the elderly, are struggling to pay such hefty amounts. “I saved for years to come to the Kumbh, but I never imagined I would be spending thousands just to get to the Sangam,” said a visibly upset Geeta Devi from Madhubani, Bihar.
Parking to mela ground: A pricey journey
The ordeal does not end at the river. Pilgrims arriving by car or bus are facing another financial hurdle-transport from the parking bays to the mela ground. With no regulated local transport, opportunistic youth are charging `500 for a ride covering barely two kilometers.
“I could have walked if I was not carrying my luggage,” said Somnath Sanyal, a Prayagraj resident. “But `500 for such a short ride? It feels like we are being looted at every step before we even reach the Kumbh!”
Even basic necessities like food and tea have seen a steep price hike. “A simple meal that should cost `50 is being sold for `150,” complained Sunita Yadav, a school teacher from Jhansi. “And tea? `30 for a cup of water with a hint of milk. If this is not loot, what is?” Some vendors are justifying the prices, citing high demand and transportation costs. But for middle-class and poor devotees, the sudden spike in expenses is forcing them to cut back. “We are sharing one meal between three people,” said Anwar Sheikh, who traveled from West Bengal with his family. “Faith alone cannot fill an empty stomach.”
Relief and comfort inside the mela grounds
However, once inside the Kumbh Mela grounds, pilgrims breathed a sigh of relief. “Everything is well-organised here. The police are managing crowds, toilets are available, and langars (community kitchens) are feeding thousands,” said Rajesh Mishra from Varanasi. “The trouble is just getting here!”
Many were also touched by the kindness of locals, especially women who allowed female pilgrims to use their home toilets due to the lack of proper sanitation along the roads. “These women are our saviors,” said Sarojini Devi, a devotee from Chhattisgarh. “Had it not been for them, the journey would have been unbearable.”
With the Kumbh attracting millions daily, the unchecked overpricing has left pilgrims frustrated. Many are now calling for stricter enforcement of government rates. “The government has done a great job inside the Kumbh, but what about outside? Who is controlling the looters?” questioned Ramesh Gupta from Kanpur.
