Prayagraj's Price Surge: Airfares Reach ₹50K, Making Kumbh Pilgrimage Costly

As millions gather for the spiritual experience of the Mahakumbh at Prayagraj, airfares are soaring to astronomical levels. Over 13.2 crore devotees have already taken the holy dip at the Triveni Sangam, with over 10 crore more expected to follow in the coming days. But the pilgrimage comes at a steep cost. With prices of round-trip flights from major cities like Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Mumbai surging to ₹50,000-₹54,500, a visit to the Kumbh can rival the cost of international vacations to Bali, Dubai, or the Maldives. In response to the price hike, the DGCA has urged airlines to increase capacity and rationalize fares, but airfares remain exorbitant. Will the cost of faith dampen the spiritual fervor of devotees?