Maha Kumbh: Gamer Payal Dhare, who Met PM Modi last year, takes Holy Dip

Payal Dhare, a well-known gamer and social media influencer from India, recently shared a video of herself taking a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj during the ongoing Maha Kumbh. She had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year.

Payal, who comes from Madhya Pradesh, is one of the top female game creators in India. She enjoys a large fan base, especially among young gaming enthusiasts. Her Instagram handle (@payalgamingg) has 3.7 million followers.

Maha Kumbh’s massive gathering

The Maha Kumbh festival, which started on January 13 and will end on February 26, is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world. Millions of devotees from different parts of the country and the world come to take a dip in the sacred rivers—the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati.

According to reports, the footfall at the Maha Kumbh has already crossed 50 crore, making it the largest human gathering in history. Earlier, it was estimated that around 40-45 crore people would attend the event. However, the actual number has exceeded expectations.

Payal Dhare was born in Umranala village in the Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh. She has always been passionate about gaming. However, in the beginning, her mother was not very supportive of her career choice. On the other hand, her father always encouraged her to follow her dreams.

Over time, she proved her skills in the gaming industry and became one of India's most successful female game creators. In March last year, she won the Gaming Creator of the Year (Female) award at the Creators Unit 2.0 Awards, one of Asia’s biggest creator festivals.

In October 2023, she was honored as Fan Favorite Female Streamer of the Year at the India Gaming Awards Season 2. These achievements made her one of the top names in India's gaming world.

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Meeting PM Modi

In April 2024, Payal Dhare, along with six other well-known gamers—Tirth Mehta, Animesh Agarwal, Anshu Bisht, Naman Mathur, Mithilesh Patankar, and Ganesh Gangadhar—had the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his official residence.

This meeting was part of PM Modi’s initiative to connect with young digital content creators and understand their perspectives. Payal and the other gamers discussed the growth of gaming in India and the challenges faced by creators.

Apart from gaming, Payal has also launched her own merchandise brand, thriftxpayal, which has over 1,000 followers on Instagram. She continues to inspire young creators with her journey from a small town to becoming one of the biggest names in Indian gaming.

Her success story shows how determination, talent, and support from family can help individuals break barriers and achieve their dreams.