CAIT expects Nashik Simhastha Kumbh to bring Rs 2-3 lakh crore business to Maharashtra

The Simhastha Kumbh Mela at Nashik-Trimbakeshwar is not only a festival of faith but can also become a growth engine for Maharashtra's economy, said Balkrishna Bharatiya, national president of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) and national convener of the Swadeshi Vyapari Manch.

Bharatiya was speaking at a meeting on faith-based economy organised by Team CAIT Nagpur. CAIT believes the government, by investing Rs 35,000 crore to Rs 40,000 crore, has taken a step towards increasing business in the state by at least Rs 2-3 lakh crore. More than two crore devotees are expected to attend the Kumbh.

According to Bharatiya, traders must now get ready, because this business is meant to come to them. Local and small traders will have to start preparing now, or someone else will take advantage of the opportunity.

He said that in the time of Chandragupta Maurya, fairs and pilgrimage sites were the centres of India's trade. Kautilya's Arthashastra also says pilgrimages, fairs and festivals are the basis of yogakshema (welfare). CAIT and the Swadeshi Vyapari Manch are trying to explain the economic side of today's Kumbh through this old economic model. For this, they are touring Nashik and nearby areas and telling traders there about this coming festival of commerce.

When devotees come from across the country and abroad, sellers of Paithani saris, Trimbak rudraksha, copper and brass utensils and puja items will do good business. Bharatiya said MSMEs, hotels and transport would all benefit.

The arrival of more than two crore devotees will create employment on a large scale for those running hotels, auto-rickshaws, tents and stalls. Local youth will get more than one lakh permanent jobs in security, sanitation and digital services.

Bharatiya also said traders have a golden opportunity to take Nashik's local products to the world. To make local global, Nashik's grapes, wine, pav misal and the Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga can be taken to the world market through the Kumbh, just as India's spices and muslin reached the world in the Maurya period.

Bharatiya demanded that the government reserve special One District One Product and Vocal for Local stalls for local producers at the Kumbh and in the surrounding area, so that the benefit of the Kumbh goes to local people and not to big corporates.

Those present at the meeting included president Rajkumar Gupta, women's convener Pooja Jham, patron Kishor Dharashivkar, national women's secretary Aarti Badal, Ashwin Gupta, Jaya Nagarare and secretary Virodh Gupta, along with a large number of traders.