Title: Kumbh Mela
Location of Proejct: Allahabad, India
Project Completion Date: 05/27/2021
Firm Name:

Short Description: Each culture has its own mythological stories which are the series of myths featuring heroic characters, supernatural beasts, spirits, sophisticated technologies, and spectacular locations. Indian folklore comprises vast ancient stories that are stimulating, amusing and leave a moral message. India has been dubbed the land of mystery, whether because of its many mysterious natural phenomena or the eccentricities synonymous with its faiths and culture. Architecture, as an active participant, will revive the spiritual and traditional experience both during and after the Kumbh Mela festival while celebrating the festival's story, enhancing the unique spiritual experience, and amplifying the social interaction.

Architect's Statement: The thought started with the mythological stories of India’s largest mass-gathering festival, Kumbh Mela. This festival is celebrated on an interval of 3, 6, 9 and 12 years, where temporary structures are built for pilgrims on the holy riverside. Festival last longs for 2 months, providing a total spiritual experience and utilizing the land, bringing people from all over India, marking it a tourist attraction. After the festival, The flooded river shifting takes the whole space, and the spiritual experience vanishes. The challenge is to keep the importance of the land after the festival by building a monument structure that can act as a part of the festival. Monument location is to be selected on the river not to disturb the whole festival, as all the temporary structure occupies the riverside land during the festival. During Monsoon, the river is flooded, increasing the water level to approximately 4m, and in summer water, the level decreases to 2m.Considering the shifting river, and people can access the spiritual area from top to down when the water level is high. When the water level is low, there are 2 options for accessibility down to top (via boat) and top to down. The function of the building is designed so that during the festival, the population being highest, the bottom part of the spiritual area can be used and when not, it is covered with water. Overall, the monument is an abstract of mythological stories of Kumbh Mela that acts as an identity of Allahabad.

The site location is on the river that connects two cities. Considering the context, The monument is divided into 3 parts; Social interaction, Celebrating story and spiritual area. A path from the entrance leads towards the social interaction area where it has market space that sells daily needs and a bathing area. Approaching from this to celebrating story space has semi-open spaces such as offices, cafeteria and a photo gallery, display area, souvenir shop that exhibits the festival. This has 3 different levels that open up into 2 different levels of the spiritual space that would act as viewing balconies. The 3rd level of the celebrating story area would bring to the center part of the spiritual area that has viewpoints of meditating pilgrims from the interior and for the exterior of city surroundings.

During monsoon, the site approach differs, and the visitors can travel via boat, and that leads to spiritual area. The aesthetics of the monument is replicated by the mythological stories of a battle between God and the Devil, where the spiritual area acts as a pitcher of nectar. During the battle, Snake was used as rope, and that is celebrating story space. God wins and the Pitcher of Nectar blasts, and so the spiritual area is tilt to the winning side, and the building is derived from the ruins of the pitcher.

The primary purpose of this project is to educate people about the significance of the festival. The building has a unique identity and a form; building construction and maintenance is by locals. Day lighting system is used in celebrating story area to display and exhibit photographs and the spiritual space. Indoor Air Quality to be maintained by using only natural ventilation. No air conditioning system is used to save energy and cost. The river water does passive cooling for the building as the building is semi-open underneath. Hence, the building can be energy efficient. Kumbh Mela is the most significant mass gathering event in the world that needs some improvement to educate the people about the significance of the mythological story behind the festival. Overall, it runs successfully every year with some pros and cons, and people significantly enjoy the festival. It has come to my findings that the land been quite important and after the festival, its been devalued. Constructing the monumental structure will act as a landmark and a significant source of income for local people while giving a unique experience. Design is built on the concept of mythological stories in a holy place. People can use this monument in their day to day life after the temporary festival. As this is built for people considering their daily needs, that would bring an identity to the city. This building functions as a tourist attraction, which connects with the local people selling daily needs in the marketplace that generates economy.