New Delhi, Dec. 19 -- A month ago, I turned to Instagram to ask fellow Mumbai residents for recommendations on things to do in the city that didn't involve cafes or bars, sensory overload, or spending unreasonable amounts of money on experiences that can feel hollow. I was imagining nature walks, community gatherings and spaces that make you feel part of something. Did such spaces even exist anymore? While many offered suggestions, almost as many asked me to share the recommendations. It was a telling indication of how urgently city dwellers seek third spaces: places that are neither home nor work, within a hypercapitalist, consumer-driven urban life.

A week later, I came across news of a pay-what-you-want music festival set to unfold in...