Date:03/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/03/stories/2008120354070500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

All set for Bangalore Habba

Special Correspondent

16 government departments to support the habba to be held from tomorrow

— Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

DECKS CLEARED: Chief Secretary Sudhakar Rao announcing the schedule of Bangalore Habba on Tuesday. Nandini Alva (right), Principal Secretary to the Department of Kannada and Culture Jayaram Raje Urs and Bharti Airtel Mobile Services CEO V. Venkatesh are with him.

BANGALORE: The sixth edition of the Bangalore Habba 2008, the city’s cultural festival, will be held from December 4 to 21 in various localities of the city.

The State Government, which has agreed to adopt the Bangalore Habba as one of the flagship festivals of the State, in partnership with the private sector, would focus on promoting cultural talent by organising various events, said Chief Secretary D. Sudhakar Rao, who is the chairman of the Festival Committee.

Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa would inaugurate the three-week cultural extravaganza at Ravindra Kalakshetra on Thursday at 6 p.m.

Sixteen government departments would support the Artistes’ Foundation for Arts (AFFA), the main organiser, to conduct the festival.

The Government had granted Rs. 2.5 crore to the festival.

Airtel, Kingfisher, The Lalit Ashok, HDFC Bank, Titan Industries, Britannia Industries, and Radio Mirchi are the other major sponsors.

The Government would actively involve in organising the festival from next year. The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike had paid Rs. 1 crore while the Bangalore Development Authority had paid Rs. 50 lakh towards the festival this year, Mr. Rao said.

This year’s festival included sports event (swimming, golf, badminton, and snooker tournaments); performing arts and photography festival; canvas arts and crafts workshops; art discussion, and a children’s carnival; film festival; classical music and dance; and theatre and dance. The S.P. Balasubramanyam night, Bollywood night with Shreya Ghoshal, a performance by “Strings”, a famous Pakistani rock band, Mrigaya, an Indian band and Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt with Rajasthani music are some mega events of the Bangalore Habba.

All events are free and open to the public.

The Kala Madhyam will organise crafts and performing arts at Chitrakala Parishath from December 5 to 14 between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. About 200 artisans from 21 States display unique arts and crafts for sale from remote villages.

Various events would be held at 13 multiple venues and they were Bangalore School of Music, Alliance Francaise de Bangalore, Gayana Samaj, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Max Muller Bhavan, Chitra Kala Parishat, Chowdiah Memorial Hall, Ravidra Kalakshetra, Town Hall, Koshy’s Chill Out, Opus, Ugly Duckling Restaurant and Bowring Institute.

V. Venkatesh , CEO, Mobile Services, Bharti Airtel Ltd., Karnataka, said: “The public-private partnership is an endeavour to nurture and promote cultural event in the State and bring the rich mosaic of performing arts to the people.” Nandini Alva and Padmini Ravi, trustees, AFFA, said: “This time we have a veritable feast of music, film, dance, sports, theatre, visual arts, folk and tribal art and craft for the audiences of the Bangalore.”

Jayanagar MLA B.N. Vijaya Kumar, Subir Hari Singh, Principal Secretary, Kannada and Culture and Tourism Department, and B.R. Jayaramaraje Urs, Secretary, Kannada and Culture and Information Department were present.