In an interview with Namita Bajpai, Giresh Kulkarni, the founder of the organization Temple Connect, discusses his role as a consultant in the Uttar Pradesh government’s ongoing efforts to develop and oversee tent cities and other areas in Mahakumbh, making it a unique pilgrimage experience. A few quotes:

How is Temple Connect, your organization, working to improve the mela experience for the thousands of worshippers that go to Prayagraj’s Mahakumbh?

I directly oversee temple administration and the festivals and Jatras that take place in relation to the temple’s finances. Motivated by the goal of fusing innovation and tradition, my project seeks to transform temple operations via community engagement. When it comes to the approaching Mahakumbh, we want to make sure that the people who attend the mela have a satisfying experience.

We serve as the organizers’ support system or adviser. It is our responsibility to standardize many facets of the planning and administration of such events.

Do you collaborate with government agencies in Uttar Pradesh?

I won’t refer to it as cooperation, but it is an independent effort to enhance the trip and offer value wherever possible. Kumbh conclaves have been organized by us. This time, we participated in the Kumbh conclaves, which were held in 40 towns around the nation in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department.

It is an effort to unite the corporate, new-age, and Gen Z audiences, who may see Kumbh as more than just a sacred site with religious importance; it is also a place where everyone who visits can gain experiences.

Therefore, Kumbh Conclaves were held in many towns to standardize the event’s administration style. Our discussions are still focused on establishing a plastic-free ecology, guaranteeing increased sustainability, making it easier for elderly people, expectant moms, and children to stay vigilant, and facilitating the unification of those who get disoriented during meals.

When did you begin hosting these conclaves in Kumbh?

Six months before the Mela, we began planning the conclaves. To hold these conclaves around the nation, we collaborated with an organization known as the India Think Council.

Since Kumbh is not only for saints and seers but also for individuals like you and me, the goal is to bring together the corporate world, the average person, volunteers, and those now employed in urban India so that they may all participate and give value to the current environment.

Is your group also developing a tent city in Prayagraj’s Mahakumbhnagar?

No. The government of Uttar Pradesh has established a tent city called Kumbh Canvas. With more than 2,000 tents, UP Tourism has established this tent city. In addition to providing value from the perspective of the customer throughout the tent cities, I am directly collaborating with many operators there to standardize the appearance, feel, and experience.

Giresh  Kulkarni
How are you enhancing the tourists’ experience by making the tents unique?

The first step is awareness. Second, individuals shouldn’t be misled. The first step is to reserve a tent. Due to their deception of customers, a large number of fraudulent websites are causing serious issues.

The UP government, the UP police cyber cell department, and Mela Pradikaran Adhikari have identified over 54 bogus websites that attempt to accept reservations in order to address this issue.

As an example, some individuals are renting helicopters at Kedarnath. Those that pay for helicopter reservations wind up paying a lot of money. They are informed that the papers they were given are fraudulent when they meet at the Kedarnath Chopper rendezvous location.

In Mahakumbh, comparable forces are also at work. Because it is less expensive and available at a discount, people often reserve tents online. When they finally arrive at these tent communities, they discover that they have been tricked since there isn’t a single tent there.

Therefore, I would advise everyone who is considering a trip to Mahakumbh to use websites like as IRCTC and Make My Trip (MMT) to make reservations via these standardized platforms.

What facilities are offered in Mahakumbh’s tent cities?

There, first-rate amenities are offered. Tents cost between Rs 12,000 and Rs 50,000 per room each night.

Every tent has two bedrooms. There are storage spaces, a bathroom with all the amenities, and a sit-out area.

Additionally, a number of activities are being held in tent towns for the visitors’ amusement. Evenings for Bhajans and Keertan are planned. There are also satsangs, or religious meetings.

In addition, the saints and seers of 13 Akharas (Hindu Monastic Orders) are taking part in the broader cultural and religious activities that the UP government has worked hard to organize.

In addition to receiving their blessings, all of this is a fantastic chance for the average person to interact with them (sadhus), take photographs, and learn more about them.

Is this your first time doing this in Uttar Pradesh?

No, I had already been during the 2019 Kumbh. In addition to preparing for the current Mahakumbh, we got the chance to work closely with, learn about, and comprehend several facets of planning such events.

However, COVID had a significant influence the past time. Despite the brief exposure, we learned a lot from Haridwar Ardh-Kumbh. As a result, our endeavor this time is greater due to the consolidation of experiences from other events.

Have you participated in any other significant religious event than Kumbh?

Over 11,106 temples in 58 countries have been linked by the organization I lead, Temple Connect. On January 22, 2024, we worked at the opening of Ayodhya Ram Mandir. At the Ram Mandir launch, we worked on the layout, the décor, the look and feel, and the design.

Additionally, six months ago, we started offering temple management courses at Welingkar Institute of Management, Pune University, and Mumbai University.

Every year, we also host an occasion known as the “International Temples Convention and Expo.” It took place in Varanasi last year. It will take place at Tirupati this year on February 17, 18, and 19. The exhibition will be attended by more than 1500 temple heads and CEOs.