Every 12 years, the Kumbh Mela in India builds a supercity of 400 million people and then demolish it！
The Ganges River in India is a vibrant tapestry as millions of Hindu pilgrims, dressed in orange, maroon and watermelon, step into the turquoise waters, leaving marigolds as a devout offering. As night falls, enchanting music wafts through the crowd, and every dawn is accompanied by a chant of prayer. In this labyrinthine tent city, the sound of prayer and the smell of sacrificial fire fill the air. This is the Kumbh Mela -- the largest religious gathering in the world. This year, about 400 million pilgrims are expected to take part in the sacred event, attempting to cleanse themselves of their SINS by bathing in the river. Though they seek forgiveness, the holiday is not somber, but a grand and joyous celebration, a spectacular gathering of human life.
In early January, pilgrims arrived at the newly renovated site in Praia Graj, which is about the size of 7,500 football fields. Some people stay for a few days, while others stick around for the full six weeks. In the words of Rahul Mehrotra, who co-conducted the Harvard study with Ek, the Indian government built a "transitory mega-city" to host millions of participants.
"This is not a makeshift city," he explains. "This is a deliberate, formal national project, and that's what makes it absolutely unique." The temporary settlement is laid out in a grid pattern so clear that it can be seen from space. "The government has built miles and miles of roads and Bridges," Mr. Ek added, "and those roads are pretty wide."
Thousands of buildings to accommodate visitors and provide services must be completed within two months of the flood receding and before the event begins. The red, white and yellow city is made mostly of canvas, bamboo poles and twine, though there are occasional structures made of corrugated iron.
The style of accommodation and facilities vary according to the financial means of the pilgrim. Poorer pilgrims live in shared Spaces, such as sleeping MATS, in state-built community tents with communal bathrooms and dining areas. There are also private tents with air conditioning, separate toilets, Wi-Fi and a chef preparing meals.
For The wealthiest pilgrims, The Dome City is a new addition to this year's Kumbh Mela. A collaboration between India's tourism department and private design-build companies, the area has 44 bubble-like structures made of transparent polycarbonate panels that are advertised as bulletproof and fireproof.
WELLCAMP National large-scale Festival camp solution
WELLCAMP's camp design is one of the main advantages of our flexibility. Whether it's a short-term project or a long-term operation, our camp designs can be customized to any scale. In countries such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia, large-scale projects are common and we can offer a wide range of facilities including dormitories, offices, restaurants, entertainment areas, and even medical centers. For smaller projects in some remote areas, our modular design can be scaled down to provide only the necessary services to ensure smooth operations.
Also at WELLCAMP, we are proud to offer advanced modular solutions to support large-scale events like the Kumbh Mela. Easy to deploy and customise, our modular container homes are ideal for temporary housing, medical facilities and community kitchens during large gatherings. With our foldable and scalable container technology, we ensure that every pilgrim, regardless of their background, has access to safe, clean and efficient accommodation and services that contribute to the success of such a meaningful event.
When the Kumbh Mela is over and the pilgrims return home, the land will be restored to its agricultural use and our modular containers can be collected for the next big festival celebration, or for other government projects. The vision and planning behind this event is similar to the precision and expertise WELLCAMP brings to each project, ensuring that even in the most challenging conditions, temporary settlements can run smoothly and efficiently.