1. Sangam-as a temporary tent city
Glimpse of the city- Allahabad
First preference synopsis
Ahmad Faraz Ansari
F/o Architecture and Ekistics
Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
MAY - 2009
2. Introduction
The city holds its importance culturally historically, politically, economically, mythically. the
city of Allahabad is among the largest cities of utter Pradesh and situated at the confluence
of three rivers- Ganga, Yamuna and the invisible Saraswati the meeting point Triveni and is
especially sacred to Hindus. PRAYAG is one of the historic and mythological cities of India
with glorious past and present. It continues to enjoy the distinction of being a place of
haunting and last memories. It is a city mixed culture of Hindu, Muslim, Jains and Christians.
It is one of the most frequent visited places of pilgrimage, where people come especially
during the month of magha (January/February) for bathing in the sacred waters of the
confluence sangam. Vedas are the part and parcel of the Kumbh. Kumbh is also related to
amrit kalash founded by demons and deities at the time of SAMUNDRAMANTHAN .The
four places in India, Haridwara, Prayaga, Ujjain and Nasik were kumbh mela happen.
Project description
Kumbh mela is of great importance in hindu religion. As they believe that all their sin would
be forgiven if they had the holy dip in the river during the month magh (January- February).
The pilligrimage comprises of common people, sadhu , sants , nagas as well as v.i.p. s in
order to serve such a huge number of pilligrimage the tent city is built , it’s a temporary city.
The huge site is divided in to different parts which is further subdivided into different
akharas , pandals , places for the sadhu to perform hawan , places for gathering during
satsang , places for for food stuffs , different companies from different part of the world
comes here for their advertisement. The companies gets a good exposure as there is a
gathering of millions of people, apart from people from tourist from different parts of the
world also come here to visit and watch the gathering and the rituals performed by the holy
people.
Many preaching events occur during the time of the mela. During these events massive
tents has to be constructed in order to gather the huge number of people inside the tent
during the preaching hour.
Allowing vehicles in tent area will not be good idea. So the design of the tent in such away,
so that people coming by vehicles have to park their vehicles somewhere inside the mela
boundary. Parking should be divided into heavy and light vehicles. The road and its
connectivity with the mela area and the city.
Temporary bridges made up of pantton is built in order to connect the opposite bank of the
river.
3. Services is a major part of any type of designing so services includes information centre, fire
escape, fire brigades, hospitals, police station and information centre etc.
People of different part of the country gather here as India is a land of mixed culture and
religion people speaks different languages here so in order to assist the huge chaos of
pilgrimage and people information centre should be kept there.
Apart from the hospitals the other thing which is very important is the sanitation. So
arrangement for sanitation is made all around the mela area.
Accommodation for pilgrims, dharmashalas, temples and Sanskrit and Veda learning centers
can be proposed on permanent site allotted on the banks at a clear distance from the main
stream of the ganga.
Aims:
India is the land of art and culture, different states is known for its art and culture. I have
tried to highlight the culture through the kumbh mela and the importance of the city
Allahabad.
The importance of the city is highlighted on the basis of historical, religious and political
issues, while the culture of the city through the kumbh mela.
Objective:
• To analyse the connectivity of the kumbh mala ground with the city, the site context
of the kumbh mela ground which include some monuments, temples and modern
structures etc.
• To study urban context of the site & surrounding and mark distinction wherever
required.
• To study the transformation in architecture and come up with the excellence
implications in design.
• To search the latest technologies for the project.
• To study the climatic responsive design.
• To study urban fabric and distinguish the growth.
• To study the organic architecture and interpret with best possible standards.
4. • Study weak and strong urban structures of the city, to make out the solution by
implementing responsive design approaches.
• To search the latest innovative engineers techniques, to counter with every possible
natural disaster till extreme.
To a normal human being kumbh mela is just a fair what I also used to thing in the past but
now with the vision of an architecture student I realized that the kumbh mela is just not a
fair but a place of happening in which one could find a lots of architectural event.
SITE
The mela ground covers a huge area serving millions of pilgrimage from different part of the
country. The total area of recently held kumbh fair was 1396 hectare. Taking the increment
of population into account mela 2006-07 is proposed to be held in 1620.85 hectare this
increment has taken place due to the construction work in mela area and the requirement
of more parking space because of increasing number of vehicles. The area of kumbh mela
has been increased by 20% in comparison to that held last year.
The kumbh area is surrounded by lots of important places, massive fort built by mughal
emperor Akhbar on the river bank,sarawati ghat, minto park, hanuman temple etc.
5. Case studies :
Haridwar river front.
Varanasi river front.
Literature case study- Hajj as a tent city, Mecca Saudi Arabia
Other studies related
Study about transformation in architecture
Built and Un-built volume study
Urban approach toward the city
6. Area analysis:
Based on observation during case studies and inferences, areas will be finalized for different
requirements.
Methodology :
Live and literature case study of areas discussed above
Data collection and documentation of information related
Visit to the site-
Gathering information available
Understand the environment
To study research papers
Analysis and conclusion
Based on the observations made during the processes mentioned above, evolving the
concept, and further enhancing the design, which can be converted it into reality.
7. Area analysis:
Based on observation during case studies and inferences, areas will be finalized for different
requirements.
Methodology :
Live and literature case study of areas discussed above
Data collection and documentation of information related
Visit to the site-
Gathering information available
Understand the environment
To study research papers
Analysis and conclusion
Based on the observations made during the processes mentioned above, evolving the
concept, and further enhancing the design, which can be converted it into reality.
