Kumbh Mela: Ek Kshanik Mahanagar Ka Pratichitran (Hindi)

Kumbh Mela is the largest religious festival held in the world, and the world’s largest gathering gathers here. As a result, a virtual megacity also emerges here. Kumbh Mela has its own roads, pontoon bridges and tents that play the role of a venue for housing and spiritual meetings. In addition, social structures are also created here as hospitals, toilets and immunization centres, which function exactly like a real city. This Kumbh city is useful to about 70 lakh people who gather here for 55 days. In addition, one crore to 2 crore people also come here who migrate up to 24 hours on 6 major bathing dates. In 2013, a team from Harvard University, which deals with a number of subjects, researched the preparations for the event. This was the first series of studies of the fair as a city and also covered issues such as social issues, diversity and the democratic system that come up during the construction of this city. This city also has a place for a single person and also for groups of individuals. The results of the same comprehensive research are being presented in this edition. It also has city maps, aerial photos, detailed sketches and stunning pictures that reflect the grandeur of this short-term metropolis that will be built during the Kumbh Mela.

Bal Kishan Bali (Translator)

Bal Kishan Bali is a writer, translator, lyricist and an independent journalist. He has written and translated many documentaries telecasted on Doordarshan, Topper, Rajyasabha T.V and on National Geographic. Other than this, he is quite active in the field of making regional film and album.

Felipe Vera

Felipe Vera is the director of the ‘Center for Ecology, Landscape and Urbanism’ and a associate professor at the Design Lab of Universidad Adolfo Ibañez in Chile. His research and design work focuses on issues of urban planning and design in the emerging contexts of the Global South. He has extensively published about key issues related to urbanization below the line of the equator. Felipe holds a Bachelor in Architecture and Urbanism from the School of Architecture at University of Chile and a Post- Professional Master in Design Studies from Harvard at the Harvard GSD.

Rahul Mehrotra

Rahul Mehrotra is a practising architect and educator. He works in Mumbai and teaches at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University, where he is Professor of Urban Design and Planning, and Chair of the Department of Urban Planning and Design as well as a member of the steering committee of Harvard’s South Asia Initiative. His practice, RMA Architects (www.RMAarchitects.com), founded in 1990, has executed a range of projects across India. Mehrotra has written, co-authored and edited a vast repertoire of books on Mumbai, its urban history, its historic buildings, public spaces and planning processes.