logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2025
17m 48s

India's $30bn festival

Bbc World Service
About this episode

The festival of Kumbh Mela is estimated to attract 400 million Hindus and other visitors from around the world.

The 45-day festival is a massive economic engine, injecting billions in the economy of the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, which is hosting the event. And this year, it is a Grand Mela, which only happens once every 144 years.

From big businesses to street vendors and hotel owners, to major brands and digital entrepreneurs, all are looking to cash in on the influx of visitors.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Devina Gupta

(Image: Shoppers next to a toy stall at Kumbh Mela in 2023. Credit: Getty Images)

Up next
Yesterday
Spain's power blackout: what went wrong?
On the morning of the 28th of April, Spain lost electric power equivalent to that generated by ten nuclear plants, leaving the whole of the Iberian Peninsula, including Portugal and parts of France, without electricity for up to 12 hours. We examine the cause of the blackout that ... Show More
17m 28s
Aug 21
Business Daily meets: Spencer Horne
The South African entrepreneur tells us about his experience growing up under the apartheid regime, before securing a scholarship that would take him to Harvard University in the US.He's now returned home to set up Cloudline, an airship company which aims to deliver goods and car ... Show More
17m 29s
Aug 20
Are you a personality hire?
The trend has taken off on social media as it's resonated with office workers around the world. So what value does an extroverted colleague bring to a company? And is it fair, or even legal, for businesses to recruit for specific personality types?Produced and presented by Imran ... Show More
17m 28s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2025
Maha Kumbh: Business in Blessings
From Eveready torches to luxury tents, and from ash-smeared sadhus to Instagram-worthy holy dips, a spiritual extravaganza like no other, where over 400 million devotees, brands, and marketers converge in Prayagraj. They discover how spirituality is shaping India’s consumer cultu ... Show More
27m 48s
Feb 2025
Why India Will Not Be The Next China for Luxury
“Will India be the next China?” is a question that’s circulated throughout the fashion industry for years. Even as its population and economy both surge, India’s cultural tapestry and fragmented retail landscape set it apart from its northern neighbour. At BoF VOICES 2024, Ravi T ... Show More
22m 7s
Apr 2020
Surviving the end of a trend: going beyond cupcakes with NOLA (Ep 9)
Laila Sedky and Adel Sedky, Founder and CEO of NOLA As Founder and CEO of one of the most recognizable brands in the confectionary business, Laila and Adel understand the business of selling happiness. Their tenure at Nola saw them grow the brand beyond the flagship store in Zama ... Show More
38m 51s
Jan 2025
The Maha Kumbh Mela Pilgrimage: The World's Largest Religious Festival
Every twelve years, one of the greatest gatherings of people on Earth takes place in India. As many as a hundred million people will converge on four different locations on sacred rivers to engage in one of the most important rites in the Hindu Religion.But what are the reasons s ... Show More
13m 38s
Nov 2023
Diwali starts today, here's an explainer
Today marks the start of the five day Hindu festival Diwali. Jesse speaks to his RNZ collegue, journalist Gaurav Sharma to tell us more about the celebration and its meaning. 
10m 31s
Jan 2020
Bringing art to the masses: How TAM is trying to democratize the art scene (Ep 7)
TAM Gallery, formerly Arts Mart, started off as an online gallery that aimed to give new artists a chance to break into the Egyptian art world. Fast forward less than a decade later, TAM has three arms each aiming to give new artists and entry into the commercial world — and to b ... Show More
29m 22s
Mar 2025
When Indian Consumers Shape Global Trends
India has been experiencing a rapid transformation over the past decade. The government has made massive investments in physical and digital public infrastructure, and its share of affluent consumers has grown considerably. It’s also young – over half of India’s 1.4 billion peopl ... Show More
31m 21s
Apr 2024
Why the BJP’s fortunes in Tamil Nadu may change
Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, April 18, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started:The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party released its manifesto last week. While most of t ... Show More
6m 28s
Apr 2025
Sabyasachi on Building a Global Brand from the Global South
Born in the suburbs of Kolkata, India Sabyasachi Mukherjee grew up immersed in the rich cultural environment in the state of West Bengal. After attending fashion school, he focused on creating his own brand with a small team and a big vision: to create Indian fashion that honours ... Show More
23m 14s