When was the last time you looked at a pool of old items and were hit by the artistic fantasy that leads to environmental preservation? The Kala Ghoda Festival of Mumbai is doing it this year. Held early February each year in Mumbai, the nine-day event features installations, artworks, craft exhibition, literature, culinary workshops, children’s activities, theatre, dance shows, and music performances. This year, the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival is celebrating its 20th anniversary as well as the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The message of the festival this year is environmental preservation and restoration, aptly reflected in the theme “Hara Ghoda” (green horse). The theme of mindfulness and sustainable living carries on into the culinary track as well, with a focus on using local ingredients and lesser-known vegetables, reducing kitchen waste, and creatively using left-over food.
As compared to other art festivals held in other parts of convention centers or repurposed streets, what makes this Festival unique is that they promote street art and culture at such a huge scale and its venue are located in the heart of the Kala Ghoda heritage district in South Mumbai. It features folk and contemporary art, in outdoor as well as indoor settings. The iconic festival this year has 565 programs and 60 installations across 25 venues, supported by over a hundred volunteers. The festival’s unique take on recycling is well appreciated by all, Parveen Jiterwal, Founder and CEO of recycled art firm KareGhar believes, “We all should be more accepting and encouraging of recycled art. Recycled is not equal to cheap products. Recycled artworks are handmade, one piece at a time, and that requires attention to detail and high personal involvement.”
Kala Ghoda Festival truly seems a “platform of platforms” as it not only brings together a range of artistic communities and associations from across India but this year, but they’re also giving something to cheer for. It is providing encouragement to people in the future to make it a regular habit to use recycled products. The makers don’t have to present items that are expensive, but a healthy mix of cost and variety of range in products will surely inspire people to use and try recycled products with great aplomb. This year’s theme has provided such noble thought in the minds of people that might not see churning out results right at the moment but it will change the way people see recycled products and will compel them to reconsider the way they’ve been treating the environment.
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India is a vast country and a mystery to most. Those who live in it, those who now live outside of India or those who are just visiting. We, at NRIClub™, serve as a centralized hub of information for the residents, non-residents and travellers who are not familiar with various aspects of this great country.
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