Step into the vibrant world of Kumbh Village, one of the standout tent enclosures in the sprawling Kumbh Tent City. Join Reporter Pankaj Mishra and Cameraman Imran Shah as they explore the visionary creation of Anil Agarwal, Founder of Kumbh Village. In this exclusive interview, Anil Agarwal shares the inspiration, challenges, and the meticulous planning behind this incredible initiative. Discover what makes Kumbh Village a unique haven for visitors during the Kumbh Mela, blending tradition with modern comforts.
#KumbhVillage #KumbhMela2024 #TentCity #AnilAgarwal #PankajMishra #ImranShah #IndianTradition #SpiritualJourney #IncredibleIndia #KumbhExperience
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#KumbhVillage #KumbhMela2024 #TentCity #AnilAgarwal #PankajMishra #ImranShah #IndianTradition #SpiritualJourney #IncredibleIndia #KumbhExperience
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NewsTranscript
00:00Intro
00:27When it comes to establish city within city, this Kumbh city, Kumbh village is a classic
00:33example and with me is Mr. Anil Agarwal, often credited as the precursor to bring this tent
00:40city concept to this Kumbh city of Allahabad.
00:43Mr. Agarwal, thank you so much for speaking to One India First, Things First.
00:46How are you managing and what are your expectations for the coming Kumbh 2025?
00:51Thank you so very much.
00:53Actually Kumbh is not new for me.
00:56I have been doing it as you said.
00:58I have been doing it since 2000-2001 and every 6 years.
01:03And since my son Varun came in 2013, so he has fallen in the footsteps and now he continues
01:10to do it.
01:11I am just assisting him at the moment.
01:14Absolutely.
01:15When it comes to the concept of Kumbh village, share with us the kind of services that you
01:21are providing here.
01:22You see, experience, spirituality and luxury is the tagline.
01:26What is the concept altogether?
01:28Actually, 2001 experience was very different and today the expectations of people is entirely
01:37different.
01:38So, you have to fall in line with the times and that is why it is not just today a person
01:44who comes in, he doesn't want to just come in, take a dip and go away.
01:50He is searching for something else, something more and that is what we have tried to curate
01:56the experiences so that a person when he comes here, he gets to know what is Kumbh and he
02:02gets a lifetime experience by going through the experiences which we have curated for
02:09them.
02:10It's Kumbh by night, so by 10 o'clock our guides will take them to the Kumbh city when
02:16the Kumbh is sleeping and it is a two, two and a half hour experience when they will
02:21take them.
02:22This is one of the experiences.
02:23Then the Naga experience, then the different Akharas.
02:28So, you need to know in depth like when we go out from Allahabad and we go to a fort
02:34or any such place, so going there, just looking at things and coming back is hollowness.
02:42So, essentially you know things, the inside, the inside of it, it's useless to visit any
02:48place.
02:49So, that is the concept and how we try to develop this, so that a person gets a wholesome
02:56experience and he goes with a lingering memory forever.
03:00Absolutely.
03:01You mentioned 2001, 20 years have passed since then, a lot of revolutions have come and gone
03:08by.
03:09One of the revolutions is the technical revolution, if we talk about AI.
03:13What difference did it make?
03:14It made a lot of difference.
03:15Right from booking to…
03:16In 2001, there were computers, there were mobiles, but the problem was that we had technology
03:26which was so advanced that we had basic technology in 2000-2001.
03:31And we had to go to Banaras to collect money.
03:34We used to collect money from the Western Union, which is about 150 km away from Allahabad.
03:40We used to collect money from there, which the foreigners used to transfer from the Western Union.
03:45That was the only mode of payment.
03:47Today, the things have changed.
03:50I mean, you don't have to tell anyone that you just have to give a QR code or you have
03:55to give banking and from UPI, he can pay money with so many things.
03:59And you are very close to the world.
04:03You don't have to tell anything to anyone today.
04:05You are there and you are there everywhere.
04:08So, everybody knows about you and whatever you want to sell and the way you want to sell,
04:13the reach to people is enormous and these are the things of technological advancement.
04:20I remember when we made it in 2001, we did the work of Kolkata.
04:25We made a wooden structure and put tarpaulin on it and put a sack from outside to give
04:34it a Kumbh village.
04:35When I named it as Kumbh village, I gave a look of a village look.
04:39So, when we came up with the concept of a village, we gave it a village look.
04:43And that was the first time when people experienced that you get this kind of facility here.
04:51But that was also a basic facility.
04:53We had an in-house kitchen.
04:55They used to cook food and people used to eat.
04:57They used to go for a walk.
04:59They didn't get that much experience.
05:02They were on their own.
05:03They didn't have that many guides.
05:06But today, people have mastered everything and they are really into it.
05:13And when they take you around, they give you the experience.
05:16There is a lot of difference.
05:18Absolutely.
05:19And at the same time, Kumbh village is one of the many tent structures or tent enclosures
05:28that have been created here.
05:31If you could tell us about Kumbh village, what is it that you offer here for those who
05:37want to come here?
05:39And secondly, for foreign visitors also, if you may have.
05:41You see, with the changing times, as it is said that a thirsty man goes to a well.
05:49Yes.
05:50Here, the well came to the thirsty man.
05:52Taj decided to venture with us and they have joined hands.
05:59And they are our culinary partners.
06:03F&B is being looked after by Taj.
06:06So that gives the confidence to a person that if we stay there, at least we will get three
06:12meals a day.
06:13There is no problem with that.
06:14Because coming to such kind of affair, people have this problem.
06:18Especially people who come from abroad.
06:21So today we are talking about Taj.
06:26I would like to tell you that I am setting up my own RO system here.
06:32Okay.
06:33We are putting up a RO system.
06:35We are totally, 100% bio.
06:39All the toiletries that we have, they are all wooden.
06:47No plastic.
06:48And no bottles.
06:50Only our water will go into the glass bottle.
06:54Okay.
06:55This is our own RO plant.
06:57Right.
06:58So, like you said, with changing times, there is so much revolution that you have to...
07:07Right.
07:08This is how Kumbh village is different from others, I would say.
07:12Absolutely.
07:13Now, Mr. Aqbal, I would like to ask you one last question.
07:15You are from Allahabad.
07:17You have seen many Kumbhs and some Mahakumbhs as well.
07:22When it comes to the people here and the impact here,
07:26you told me earlier that the Ganga river comes till here and then recedes.
07:31And then this whole structure comes.
07:33What kind of enthusiasm is needed when you know that every step that you are taking,
07:37you have to retrace it after 45 days?
07:40See, this is one of the specialities of Allahabad.
07:43Here, it is said that Lord Hanuman also came and lay down.
07:46Okay.
07:47Lord Hanuman lay down here.
07:49Yes.
07:51And the belief is that as long as Ganga does not reach Lord Hanuman every year,
08:00so-called, as long as they do not bathe, Ganga will not go back.
08:05Right.
08:06So, Ganga comes there every year.
08:09And this is an area of more than 20-25-30 kilometers, which is submerged in water.
08:18Right.
08:19So, when Ganga recedes from here, the administration also decides
08:24what is the course of the river.
08:28According to that, the land is obtained.
08:30And for 45 days, 40 days,
08:36it is a challenge in itself to bring a very good facility on this land, on this sand,
08:44and then remove it after 45 days.
08:48And every day we fall short by one day.
08:52And we keep fighting and fighting and fighting.
08:55But ultimately, it comes up and everything happens.
08:59This is the grace of Ganga Ma and Lord Hanuman here on us
09:03that we are able to do it and we are able to do it successfully.
09:06Absolutely.
09:07So, succinctly and so nicely put to Mr. Anil Gaurav.
09:10Thank you so much.
09:11So, this is it.
09:12You heard it from the man himself.
09:14One of the many tent cities, one of the many tent enclosures that have been created here.
09:19And it gives you the glimpse that if you are headed to Allahabad,
09:22you know the place where to come and stay.
09:25Having said that, in the next video, you can watch Mr. Gaurav also explaining the facilities
09:29that are there inside the tent houses,
09:31which will give you a better and a closer experience of staying here in the Mahakom city of Allahabad.
09:38This is Pankaj Mishra reporting from Prayagraj for OneIndia.
09:42Don't miss out. Log on to OneIndia.com for more updates.