Yogi government to finance religious melas with footfall above 5 lakh, issues new SOP

The Mahakumbh 2025 reportedly attracted 62 crore devotees to Prayagraj

The Uttar Pradesh government has announced that it will fully finance religious melas—both in urban and rural areas—if the footfall crosses five lakh devotees. A new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by the Urban Development Department outlines the framework for this initiative, which aims to provide structure and support for large-scale religious gatherings across the state.

As per the SOP, only those melas that attract at least five lakh devotees will be eligible for government funding. The state will bear the entire cost of organising such events, including infrastructure, crowd management, sanitation, temporary facilities, and other essential services. This move is seen as a significant effort to ensure safety, hygiene, and efficient organisation of religious events, which draw massive crowds in UP every year.

To oversee the planning and execution of these melas, a committee will be formed in each district under the chairmanship of the District Magistrate (DM). The committee will include an SDM-level officer as coordinator and the Municipal Commissioner as the member secretary, along with four other nominated members. The same committee will also be responsible for recommending whether a particular fair should be declared a “Provincial Mela”—a status that gives it further administrative recognition and support. Such a recommendation will be based on the fair's religious, mythological, and historical significance, its duration, and its format. However, the minimum criterion of five lakh attendees remains mandatory.

The SOP mandates that the mela committee must meet at least once every six months to deliberate on detailed proposals. If there is any disagreement over issues like imposing user charges or tolls during the mela, the DM is expected to go by the committee's majority opinion. In case of a deadlock, the matter will be referred to the Divisional Commissioner, whose decision will be final.

For funding purposes, the government has also defined a graded financial support model based on the number of devotees. A mela with 5 to 10 lakh visitors will receive Rs 25–50 lakh; 10 to 20 lakh visitors will warrant Rs 50–75 lakh; 20 to 40 lakh visitors will receive Rs 75 lakh to ₹1 crore; 40 to 60 lakh visitors will be allocated Rs 1 crore to Rs 1.25 crore; and melas with more than 60 lakh attendees will get Rs 1.25 crore to Rs 1.5 crore.

“The funding will come from multiple sources including CSR funds, revenue earned by urban local bodies from the mela, and financial support from various state departments such as Public Works, Irrigation, Police, and Panchayati Raj,” said N N Srivastava, a government official adding: “If necessary, additional funds will be sought from the Urban Development Department by the district administration”.

To ensure convenience and safety of devotees, the government will provide temporary tents for accommodation, drinking water facilities, barricading, watchtowers, public announcement systems, lighting arrangements, decorations, boats with boatmen and divers (where needed), and temporary roads and toilets.

“Religious melas are not just spiritual gatherings—they are massive economic engines,” said Mukesh Singh, Executive council member and Chairman UP Coordination committee Indo American chamber of commerce. “These events create thousands of temporary jobs, boost local businesses, and inject liquidity into rural and semi-urban markets. Government support for large-scale melas can play a significant role in reviving local economies, especially in post-pandemic and inflationary times.”

Nomita P Kumar of Giri Institute of Development Studies said: “Melas are major economic catalysts for local communities. From small vendors and artisans to transport operators and tent contractors, a wide range of people benefit financially. Supporting these fairs through public funding not only preserves cultural heritage but also stimulates grassroots economic activity.”

This comprehensive plan marks a significant step in institutionalising the conduct of religious melas in Uttar Pradesh, ensuring that events with large footfall are well-managed and adequately supported by the state.