Held annually every February in and around the heritage precinct of Kala Ghoda in south Mumbai, the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival is one of the country’s longest-running and most prominent neighbourhood festivals. The Kala Ghoda Association organises the event, with a vision to spread awareness of the arts, especially among those with limited access and exposure to culture. The nine-day festival, launched in 1999, draws lakhs of visitors from across Mumbai and beyond.
They congregate to view, watch and participate in exhibitions, performances and workshops in verticals such as comedy, dance, film, food, heritage, literature, music, theatre, urban design and architecture, visual art and events for children.
The music concerts are among the many highlights and have included those by Indian classical legends such as Hariprasad Chaurasia, Amjad Ali Khan and Zakir Hussain as well as Hindi film music stalwarts like Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Sonu Nigam and Farhan Akhtar. Dancers Mallika Sarabhai and Aditi Mangaldas and theatre actor-director Nadira Babbar are among the several other veterans who have performed at the festival over the years.
Also popular at the festival are the well-curated shopping stalls. Kalaghodaartkart.com, an online marketplace that showcases works by artists, craftsmen and small-scale enterprises from all over the country, opened in December 2021. While the 2021 edition of the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival was held digitally, the 2022 instalment did not take place owing to the pandemic. The 2023 edition of the festival is being held between 4 and 12 Feb.
Check out more multiarts festivals here.
How to Reach Mumbai
1. By Air: Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, formerly known as Sahar International Airport, is the primary international airport serving the Mumbai metropolitan area. It is situated about 30 km from the main Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) train station. Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji has two terminals. Terminal 1 or the domestic terminal was the old airport referred to as Santa Cruz Airport, and some locals still use this name. Terminal 2, or the international terminal, replaced the old terminal 2, formerly known as the Sahar Airport. The Santa Cruz Domestic Airport is about 4.5 km from the international airport. There are regular direct flights to Mumbai from other airports. Buses and cabs are easily available from the airport to reach desired destinations.
2. By Rail: Mumbai is very well connected to rest of India by train. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is the most popular station in Mumbai. Trains to Mumbai are available from all major railway stations in India. Some important Mumbai trains of note are the Mumbai Rajdhani, Mumbai Duronto and Konkan Kanya Express.
3. By Road: Mumbai is well-connected with national highways and expressways. Visiting by bus is economical for individual tourists. Government-run, as well as private buses, operate daily services. Travelling to Mumbai by car is a common choice made by travellers, and hailing a cab or hiring a private car is an efficient way of exploring the city.
Source: Mumbaicity.gov.in
1. Carry summer clothes to beat the humidity in Mumbai.
2. Sandals, flip flops, sneakers — wear comfortable shoes and ensure your feet are summer-ready too!
3. A sturdy water bottle, if the festival has refillable water stations.
4. COVID packs: Hand sanitiser, extra masks and a copy of your vaccination certificate are things you should keep handy.
Fourth Floor
Dr. V. B. Gandhi Marg
Next to Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue
Fort
Mumbai 400023
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