It’s one of Mumbai’s iconic culture festivals. A smorgasbord of dance, literature, music, films, theatre, street stalls and much more, the ongoing Kala Ghoda Arts Festival till 12 February is a treat for adults and children alike.
Since 1999, the festival has been giving art lovers of Mumbai a taste of culture outside the confines of art galleries and auditorium. Spread across 11 sections, the festival is a popular draw for people from across the country. This year’s highlights include 3D Street Art by Tracy Lee Stum, who will be working on a live 3D chalk art on 8-9 February; and tributes to legends such as Shammi Kapoor, Dev Anand and Jahangir Sabavala, as well as some great cinema like Army of Shadows (7 February) and the popular and critically acclaimed The Dirty Picture (12 February).
The Asiatic Steps and Cross Maidan will showcase world music from the rhythmic beats of music directors Vishal and Shekhar to the melodious strings of sitar maestro Niladri Kumar. Another one to watch out for is Marimba artiste Lukas Ligeti who will play on 10 February. Marimba Lumina is an electronic percussion combining African and Western Marimba playing styles.
This year the heritage walks section has organized a special Treasure Hunt for schoolchildren on 12 February. The walk intends to unravel the heritage of Mumbai through a series of clues laid out across the Fort area. There’s plenty food for thought for litterateurs and aspirants as well, with writing workshops and discussions with eminent experts like Urvashi Butalia, Anita Roy, Jai Arjun Singh, Dilip D’Souza and Samit Basu.
And if these aren’t reasons enough to make a special trip down to the festival, here are some images from the festival to seal the deal.