The Uttar Pradesh government has announced that it will give complete financial support to religious melas held in both cities and villages if the crowd exceeds five lakh people. A new Standard Operating Procedure issued by the Urban Development Department has set the rules for this move, which is aimed at giving more structure and help to large religious festivals across the state.

According to the SOP, only those melas that attract at least five lakh devotees will qualify for state funding. The government will cover all expenses for such events, including infrastructure, crowd handling, sanitation, temporary setups, and other necessary services. This decision is being seen as an important step to make sure these large gatherings in Uttar Pradesh are safe, clean and well managed.

To plan and manage these events, a committee will be formed in each district under the leadership of the District Magistrate. The committee will also include an SDM-level officer as the coordinator, the Municipal Commissioner as the member secretary, and four other nominated members. This committee will also be in charge of deciding whether a mela should be given the title of “Provincial Mela,” which brings extra administrative support and recognition. This recommendation will be based on the religious, mythological, and historical importance of the mela, along with its length and nature. However, the condition of having at least five lakh visitors will still be compulsory.

The SOP clearly states that the committee must meet at least once every six months to go through detailed proposals. If there is a disagreement about matters like collecting user fees or tolls during the mela, the District Magistrate will go with the majority decision of the committee. If the members are evenly split, the case will be passed on to the Divisional Commissioner, whose decision will be final.

To decide how much money will be given, the government has introduced a funding model based on the number of attendees. If a mela sees 5 to 10 lakh visitors, it will get between Rs 25 and 50 lakh. For melas with 10 to 20 lakh visitors, the amount will be between Rs 50 and 75 lakh. A mela with 20 to 40 lakh people will receive Rs 75 lakh to 1 crore. Events with 40 to 60 lakh attendees will be given Rs 1 crore to 1.25 crore. If the number of visitors is above 60 lakh, the funding will range from Rs 1.25 crore to 1.5 crore.

“The money will be raised from various sources such as CSR, income generated by urban local bodies from the mela, and financial assistance from different state departments like Public Works, Irrigation, Police, and Panchayati Raj,” said N N Srivastava, a government officer, adding, “If need arises, further funds will be requested from the Urban Development Department by the district administration.”

To make sure pilgrims are safe and comfortable, the state will provide temporary shelters for them to stay in, safe drinking water, barricades, watchtowers, public address systems, proper lighting, decorations, boats with boatmen and divers where needed, and temporary toilets and roads.

“Melas that have a religious flavour are not merely religious events—they are huge economic drivers,” averred Mukesh Singh, Indo-American Chamber of Commerce's Executive Council Member and Chairman of its UP Coordination Committee. “They generate thousands of off-season jobs, stimulate local trade, and pump liquidity into rural and semi-urban economies. Large-scale melas with government support can become the drivers of helping revive local economies, particularly during post-pandemic and inflationary periods.”

Nomita P Kumar of the Giri Institute of Development Studies remarked, “Melas are huge economic drivers for local communities. From transport operators and artisans to small vendors and tent contractors, a lot of people stand to gain financially. Defending these fairs through public support not only helps maintain cultural heritage but also drives grassroots economic activity.”

This detailed plan marks an important move toward making the organisation of religious melas more formal in Uttar Pradesh, ensuring that large events are properly managed and strongly supported by the government.