The city’s favourite and cultural festival Bengaluru Habba is back. A signature festival of the state of Karnataka, the Bengaluru Habba enters its ninth edition this year. This 10-day festival is starting from January 13 to January 22. The city plays host to exquisite performances from varied fields of art, dance, music, theatre and much more.

A festival this year attempts to give every Bangalorean an opportunity to discover the best that Karnataka has to offer culturally, this year too the Habba is set to capture the spirit of cultural fusion. Bangalore over the years has emerged as a city that is cosmopolitan yet artistically inclined, and this is the very essence that Habba attempts to infuse through its artist associations and performances.

A brain child of Nandini Alva and Padmini Ravi, the Bengaluru Habba is seen as an ideal platform to revive Bengaluru’s rich history of art and culture. Echoing these thoughts Nandini Alva, the founder said “Bengaluru Habba is all about celebrating local artists, our state and its culture and art forms. Our passion for diverse forms of local art and cuisine and its reflection in the character of this city is the pulse of Habba. We invite all Bangaloreans to come and soak in the magnificence of the celebration of art. ”

This time around the Habba includes performances by top dance schools, theatre groups, dancers, musicians, giving the people of this city a chance to meet and appreciate the works of renowned artists from across India. The Habba will also attempt to capture the spirit of Incredible India through the Khadi and Handloom exhibitions, art and flower instillations, folk/theatre festivals and more. Rock and jazz performances, fashion shows and chamber concerts will add to the grandeur of the Habba.

The 10-day long festival will bring together young artists from all over Karnataka, celebrating various art forms. The performances are slated to held across various venues in the city like Chowdiah Memorial Hall, Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, National grounds, UB City, Seva Sadhan, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Rangashankara, Taj Hotels etc.

Bengaluru Habba has expanded its Board of Directors this year, bringing in people with a rich lineage of art and culture. I M Vittal Murthy, Secretary, Kannada Culture Information and Tourism department also commented, “The Bengaluru Habba is truly a city festival in every sense. It brings together the young and the old, it blends art forms from Karnataka and encourages talent and promotes culture.

The Habba is a great platform to encourage young artists and give them an opportunity to showcase their talent, and share the stage with stalwarts.”

Source: Express News Service, Jan 12, 2012