Janapada
Loka - The Folk Cosmos
A tourist centre and folklore institution, Janapada Loka
enthrals visitors with its wonderful folk-artifacts. Cultural
programmes are conducted on Sundays and second Saturdays. Situated
on the Bangalore-Mysore state highway, Janapada Loka showcases
the folk culture of Karnataka from the ancient times to contemporary
days.
Janapada Loka is a hub of continuing activities, live performances
and festivals, highlighting cultural and aesthetic dimensions
of folk-life and arts. The complex located on a 15 acre green
belt, comprises a museum, an art gallery, open air theatre,
studio and seminar halls. It is the brainchild of Mr H.L.
Nage Gowda, an authority on the folklore of Karnataka.
The museum artistically displays about five thousand artifacts
drawn from the life and arts of the large number of tribal folk
spread across Karnataka. These displayed artifa cts
showcase the essence of folk culture, which includes literature,
music, dance, theatre, festivals, paintings, sculpture and the
lifestyle of native Kannadigas. As with other parts of the world,
in India too, folk culture and traditions face the danger of
extinction through the mindless onslaught of urbanisation. By
documenting and preserving folk traditions and artifacts, Janapada
Loka strives to save the folklore of the state.
A tour to this folk cosmos lasts a few hours. It begins with
the traditional Aarathi (welcome at the gate of the Janapada
Loka), after which the tourists are offered garlands. Trained
guides narrate stories and incidents from folklore, and there
are live performances in the amphitheatre. This is followed
by excellent food, served in a traditional manner on plantain
leaves.
Address: Janapada Loka,
53rd km, Bangalore-Mysore Highway, Near Ramanagaram.
Phone: 080-2727 1555 .
Enquiries can be made at Karnataka Janapada Parishat, No. 7,
5th Cross,
Kumarapark West, Bangalore-560 020.
Timings: 8 am to 5 pm on all days except Tuesdays and
public holidays.
Click below for a view of high resolution pictures. The wait
will be worth your while!
Aakaar, The Studio of
Terracotta Jewellery
 Terracotta
ornaments are attracting both local and global clientele to
Aakaar Art Studio. This studio creates unique terracotta
jewellery. The terracotta jewellery of Aakaar are used at places
of worship and as designer jewellery. The chief designer,
Ms Bindu Mathai has created 'Temple Jewellery' in a special
style to adorn the idols of Gods in temples. "However, temple
jewellery lures the fashion conscious women too," says
Ms Mathai, while fondly touching a gold coated necklace
in the temple jewellery section at her studio. Each necklace
has been complemented with ear-rings of the same design. Bindu
has won a national award for her craft recently.
Address: Aakaar, # V-300, C/o Bangalore
Ceramics,Bangalore-Bellary Main Road, Venkatala, Bangalore-560
064.
Phone: 2846 0180
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