PRAYAGRAJ: A wooden boat glided smoothly towards Sangam – the sacred confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and invisible Saraswati. Rhythmic chants of “Har Har Gange” blended with the gentle splash of oars. At the helm stood Pintu Mahara, guiding his passengers towards their spiritual rendezvous and his destiny toward prosperity.
For Pintu and his kin, the 45-day Maha Kumbh was not just a gathering of millions – it was a tide of fortune that lifted their once-struggling family to uncharted heights.
CM Yogi Adityanath recognised the boatman’s success, sharing his story in the UP assembly on Tuesday and claiming the family’s earnings touched Rs 30 crore. Pintu remained discreet about the figure but admitted it was an “unprecedented” windfall.
It was no mere stroke of luck but the result of sharp business acumen honed over years. Recalling the bustling crowds of 2019 Kumbh, Pintu sensed the winds shifting and prepared to ride the crest of this spiritual wave. The boatman from Arail ghat made a bold and calculated gamble: he expanded his fleet from 60 to 130 boats. Each vessel, manned by a member of his extended family, ferried eager pilgrims across the holy waters.
“Millions of devotees arrived in Arail, which resulted in a rise in our income,” he said. A ride for 10 passengers, usually priced at Rs 6,000, soared to as much as Rs 30,000 during the peak of Kumbh.
For Pintu’s mother Shuklavati Devi, the change was nothing short of divine intervention. “The family was in financial doldrums after the death of my husband. In such a situation, Maha Kumbh came as a saviour,” she said.
Pintu’s success was not an isolated tale. More than 4,500 boatmen, many from nearby districts like Kaushambi, Fatehpur, Pratapgarh and Bhadohi, saw their earnings swell, turning their once-humble occupation into a thriving business.
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