‘Rs 4,000 in just 8 hours’: YouTuber finds out how much begging can earn at Haridwar Mela

A YouTuber named Puroshottam Vashisht and his friend Sachin recently embarked on an unusual experiment at Haridwar's Kawad Mela to explore how much money could be earned through begging. Sachin, disguised in ragged clothes and with a dirt-covered face, approached devotees asking for donations. He also wore a UPI QR code around his neck, allowing people to send digital payments.

The pair expected to gather around Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000, but ended up collecting a total of Rs 4,000 in just eight hours. The experiment started slowly, with Sachin receiving around Rs 130 in the initial hours as some people turned him away. However, he continued to ask for donations, eventually earning Rs 800 after four hours. He also received a pair of sunglasses from a seller and used his QR code for digital donations.

The experiment left them physically and mentally exhausted, and they warned viewers not to see begging as an easy way to make money. The video garnered attention on X, with many users discussing the significant amount collected and the varying reactions people had towards Sachin. Some users pointed out the complexity of begging and the dangers involved, while others criticized the act and questioned its contribution to innovation in India.