As the grand spectacle of Maha Kumbh 2025 concludes, Rakesh Shukla, Former Special Advisor, Kumbh has lauded the event as a “Management Institute,” emphasizing its unparalleled scale, crisis management, and logistical expertise.
Talking to Ascendants, Shukla said, “Kumbh in itself is a management institute, a live case study in scale, crisis management, and logistics. From creating millions of jobs to executing seamless crowd control, it showcases leadership and innovation at its peak. For young entrepreneurs, it’s an unmatched learning opportunity in strategy, resilience, and resource management.“
Attracting millions of devotees, sadhus, and visitors, the Kumbh Mela is frequently referred to as the largest religious event in the world. As such, it necessitated careful coordination between numerous government agencies, private entities, and local communities. The event serves as a case study for effective organisation and execution due to its capacity to control sizable crowds, maintain public safety, and support massive economic activity.
Kumbh’s Lessons in Management and Leadership
Industry leaders believe that young entrepreneurs can extract valuable lessons from the Kumbh Mela, particularly in:
- Scale & Infrastructure Development: The temporary city built for Kumbh includes extensive road networks, sanitation facilities, and tented accommodations, demonstrating expertise in large-scale urban planning.
- Crisis Management & Crowd Control: Handling millions of visitors daily, authorities deploy AI-driven surveillance, predictive analytics, and robust security measures to prevent stampedes and maintain order.
- Resource Management & Sustainability: The festival depends on effective water supply, waste management, and power distribution and incorporates green solutions to reduce the impact on the environment.
- Economic Impact & Job Creation: Kumbh generates employment in hospitality, transportation, retail, and tourism and adds considerably to the local and national economies.
- Cultural Branding & Global Outreach: The event’s global branding attracts not only pilgrims but also investors and scholars, highlighting India’s rich heritage on an international stage.
Kumbh Economy
Kumbh Mela generates huge economic activity, generating more than 600,000 jobs in tourism, transportation, and retail, with business amounting to ₹1.2 lakh crore ($15 billion), according to a CII report. Start-ups such as Kumbhathon (supported by MIT) have brought in AI-fueled security, intelligent sanitation, and digital payment services, making Kumbh a destination for innovation and large event management.
Kumbh as a Live MBA Course
Entrepreneurs and business schools have started viewing Kumbh as a “live MBA course” in operational excellence, risk assessment, and adaptability. Several universities have conducted field research at the mela, analyzing how large-scale logistics are executed flawlessly in high-pressure environments.
With the endorsement of Kumbh as a model for leadership and innovation, there is growing interest in studying its management strategies. The event’s success reaffirms that India’s ancient traditions, combined with modern governance and technology, create a blueprint for large-scale event management worldwide.
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