The 45-day Maha Kumbh Mela, hosted by Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj, witnessed a 66 per cent jump in Aadhaar Pay transactions compared to the previous month, a report from PayNearby has stated.
The data also showed that cash withdrawals through AePS (Aadhaar Enabled Payment System) and MATM (Micro ATM) saw a 19 per cent growth during the Mela compared to the previous month, the report stated.
The data reflected the convenience and trust users placed in biometric-based digital payments during the event and also signifies the increasing demand for accessible and secure banking solutions, it added.
Mobile recharge services recorded a 32 per cent increase while money transfers rose by 47 per cent, and insurance services saw an 8 per cent uptick, underscoring the importance of financial security even during festive occasions.
Also read: Sensex, Nifty sink nearly 2% as US-China trade fears rise
“The 66% rise in Aadhaar Pay and the 47% increase in money transfers highlight the critical role of assisted digital transactions in high-footfall environments,” Anand Kumar Bajaj, Founder, MD & CEO, PayNearby, said.
The data is based on the PayNearby assisted counters for essential financial and digital services at Jan Sahayata centers and through its over 15,000 multi-utility retail touchpoints across Prayagraj.
PayNearby has a network of over 12 lakh retail partners across India providing various digital and financial services to local communities.
More than 66 crore people visited Prayagraj during the 45-day Mahakumbh which ended on February 26.
According to auto-tech app Park+, its AI-powered parking management systems at MahaKumbh 2025, Prayagraj breached the 5 lakh vehicle management mark.
FASTag-enabled systems allowed car owners to pay for parking spot, without any human intervention, the app said in a statement.
Follow us
