Bangalore Unplugged

A city that has many layers, Bangalore is like no other and this is the ethos behind the 11-day Unboxing BLR Habba 2023. The aim of this extravaganza is to preserve and celebrate the city’s rich heritage and further reiterate the city’s growing stature on the global map.

The genesis of this festival began with the book Unboxing Bengaluru: The City of New Beginnings by Prashanth Prakash and Malini Goyal. Prashanth envisioned having a two-week festival in December celebrating the diverse aspects of Bangalore, including arts, crafts, culture, technology, design, heritage, literature, and more.

The city is home to many individuals and organisations doing incredible work in various fields. The BLR Habba was envisaged to act as a big platform for showcasing these individual efforts – believing that together, they create something greater.

“Imagine the 55 partners as being ‘Michelin Chefs’ skilfully curating events for the people of Bangalore and visitors. The idea is to cover the entire gamut of conversations, arts, and culture – a potpourri of events so that there is something for everyone. By collaborating with partners and venues spread throughout the city, we aim to bring the festival to where the audiences are,” says V Ravichandar, Festival facilitator.

The festival has a slew of events such as Public Jaaga where one can explore the city’s nuances and urban commons with the Open Streets Festival, Namma Jatra and Namma Raste. Churumuri is all about an amalgamation of conversations, arts, crafts, and culture all under one roof and many events.

Basavanagudi Elegance – Essence, a fine tribute to one of the oldest areas of the city that is known for its rich culture and heritage. This rare Photo Exhibition of 100 years of Basavanagudi has some great images of what the area looked like decades ago. A Heritage Walk, Traditional Nandi Kolu at Kadlekai Parishe and Film Screening of Kannada Literary Giants at the Indian Institute of World Culture are also in the works.

There are a series of events planned at Courtyard Koota, BIC, Lahe Lahe, Natya STEM Studio. “The response has been very good. We have had big events like the Bengaluru Tech Summit, Bengaluru Literature Festival, and Bengaluru Design Week that attracted thousands of people. Also, there are hyper local, intimate events with audiences ranging from 50 to 200 at various places. The Music in the Park, along with events by IME, MAP, Courtyard, BIC, Atta Galatta, Lahe Lahe, Shoonya, Courtyard Kengeri, and others, is bringing in local audiences to try out what’s available in their neighbourhoods,” says Ravichandar.

A series of performances will be held at the Vyoma Artspace and Studio Theatre, Nayana Auditorium, Kala Grama, and at KH Kalasoudha. One can also attend art shows at Gallery Sumukha and Art Mantram as well as sign up for an Airport Art Walkthrough.

There are a series of ticketed and some free walks as well that are being conducted by The City Beautiful, Parichay – Heritage Walks, Bengaluru by Foot, Gully Tours, and Rustik Travel. Literary fans are in for a treat as well.

Evenings@Atta Galatta will have the Book Swap, Atta Galatta Book Club and Let’s Play with Cardboard Boxes on December 9 and Bangalore Reads, a silent reading community, will have events at Cubbon Park, Lalbagh and Whitefield Inner Circle Park. Check out The Handmade Crafts Mela at Bhartiya City Mall and the Bengaluru Potters Market.

Design Mantapa is showcasing artists and makers as part of the Bengaluru Design Week.

Envisioning this as an annual event on Bangalore’s calendar every December, creating anticipation among the audience is what the team behind the festival is hoping for.

The goal is to establish this event as a significant part of the city’s cultural identity, moving beyond just being an industrial hub. “Our mission is to carve out a space for artists, providing them a platform to shine and a place to stay connected. Of course, we aim to keep innovating as we plan for future Habbas,” says Ravichandar.

If implemented successfully, this festival could make Bangalore a popular destination for visitors over the years, boosting the city’s reputation and benefiting the local economy. The festival promises an unforgettable journey that will take you through the diverse and captivating facets of this vibrant city.

From its rich cultural heritage to its modern technological advancements, get ready to be immersed in a unique adventure that will leave you with memories to last a lifetime. Are you ready to experience the city in all its glory?

Weekend Setlist

A huge weekend is on the offing. Here are some highlights:

• Open Streets at six locations – Church Street, Yelahanka New Town, Malleswaram 8^th cross, Jayanagar 4^th Block, Sarjapur – Gunjur Road, and Whitefield – AECS Layout Main Road, 60 ft Road.
• Namma Jaatre events showcasing the Kannada & Culture Department at Ravindra Kalkshetra.
• Experience BIC with over 20 events, exhibition of Paul Fernandes’s work.
• Multiple City Heritage walks on the weekend 9 and 10 December.
• Accidental Death of an Anarchist on December 10 at BIC, at Nayana Auditorium.
• Sustainable Bangalore presents All Living Things – Environmental Film Festival on December 9-10.

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