Bangalore Habba is back; events to start from December 2

Bangalore Habba is back; events to start from December 2

The Hindu

Parallel show in Mandya, Mysore, Dharwad, Mangalore, Tumkur and Chikmagalur


Bangalore: The annual city festival, Bangalore Habba, is back and has become more broad-based than last year. The habba will be celebrated from December 2 to December 11 at various venues around the city.

This year, parallel events are to be held in six towns — Mandya, Mysore, Dharwad, Mangalore, Tumkur and Chikmagalur.

According to the organising committee, led by Nandini Alva and Padmini Ravi, the pre-habba promotional events are on with Festival Stories, organised by Kathalaya, going on at 40 schools in Bangalore, till November 30.

Much attention has been given to Kannada theatre, music and literature this year. The inaugural ceremony at Ravindra Kalakshetra on December 2 will be followed by a theatre presentation: Typical T.P. Kailasam by the Vedike troupe. Street theatre will be another component with plays staged by Voices at Bangalore Centre near Mayo Hall, Big Bazaar in Banashankari, on Mahatma Gandhi Road, at Jayanagar, Koramangala and Indiranagar, on Brigade Road, Residency Road, Commercial Street, Cunningham Road and in Malleswaram and within Cubbon Park. Besides entertaining people, the street plays will carry messages.

The concept of " neighbourhood cricket" will be given a boost with tennis ball cricket tournaments between teams representing the south, north, east and west of the city. In all, 16 teams will play the matches.

December 4 will see the rage of city youth, a Drag Race at Jakkur airfield. Motor sports enthusiasts and speed loving amateurs, can race on a quarter-mile strip, open in different categories to cars and motorbikes, Indian and imported models. The same day will see a Vintage Car Rally.

With the aim of reaching out to all sections of Bangaloreans, there will be a Bangalore Habba Golf Tournament organised in association with the Karnataka Golf Association, on December 2. Youth who seek thrill are to be given a chance to experience adventure sports with the Adventure Maze to be offered from December 2 to December 8, coordinated by Chandrasekhar of "Escape".

Now, for some "highbrow" events for the artistic and intellectual side of the city: The Art Espressor to be held from December 2 to December 8, will be in association with British Council's Culture Care and will see prose and poetry readings at Café Coffee Day outlets in Indiranagar, Frazer Town, Koramangala, Malleswaram, on Brigade Road, Commercial Street, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Cunningham Road, Lavelle Road, BEL Road, at Garuda Mall, Bangalore Central and Infosys and Wipro. There will be a Book Lounge at Palace Grounds to create a space for the literary-minded and an outlet for Kannada writing. Bangalore Central has emerged a major supporter of the habba, offering space for events at their malls. Dance, music, theatre and fashion events have been planned for these venues.

A film festival, supported by the Kannada film industry and other Southern film chambers, will be held during the habba. Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films will be screened at special shows at cinemas. There will be a Food Festival at a number of venues, in collaboration with Nammura Hotel. The flavour of the season will be culinary specialities from different parts of Karnataka.