Paper Short Abstract:

This paper examines how the Indian community in Padova’s Arcella neighborhood engage in grassroots, citizen-led spatial practices through events like the annual "Mahakubh Mela" (in July), challenging top-down urban planning narratives to co-create more inclusive and multicultural spaces.

Paper Abstract:

Every year, the last weekend of July, for the time of a day, the city of Padova (Italy) becomes the mirror of an Indian city, while it celebrates the "Mahakubh Mela": a collective celebration for peace.

Through a seven-years Participatory Active Research within the Indian Community in Padova, I have witnessed the profound impact of these citizen-driven interventions, extending beyond physical transformations, fostering a sense of belonging, cultivating mutual understanding, and challenging entrenched power dynamics that have historically marginalized certain communities.

This research delves into the dynamic interplay between the Indian community, local residents, and the urban fabric of Padova's Arcella neighborhood. At its core, it examines how this vibrant locale has emerged as a crucible for grassroots initiatives that actively reshape public spaces, challenging conventional narratives of urban development. The study brings into sharp focus the transformative power of citizen-led efforts like the Mela, an event that transcends its cultural roots to become a catalyst for intercultural dialogue and social cohesion. Through such initiatives, the Indian diaspora and other residents collectively engage in a process of reclaiming and redefining the neighborhood's identity.

By promoting inclusivity and amplifying diverse voices, these grassroots movements resist the homogenizing forces of top-down urban planning strategies. Instead, they offer a bottom-up approach that celebrates the rich tapestry of multiculturalism woven into Arcella's public spaces: a compelling case for rethinking traditional city development paradigms.