Mumbai’s most celebrated art festival is back with its 20th edition this February after a long halt. The eight-day Kala Ghoda Arts Festival will be held in the Kala Ghoda district of South Mumbai.
Aimed at promoting arts, crafts, and cultural heritage, the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival has become one of the biggest multicultural, street-art festivals in the country ever since its inception in 1999. But when the COVID-19 pandemic crisis hit the world, the annual fiesta drew to a standstill, just like everything else, for two consecutive years. This year, it is returning to the Kala Ghoda district of South Mumbai!
Kala Ghoda Arts Festival is back!
Organised by the Kala Ghoda Association, the annual festival will be held over a span of eight days with an overarching theme of ‘Past Forward’, starting February 4, 2023. The venue remains to be the Kala Ghoda district, which is known for its heritage buildings, museums, art galleries, cultural spaces, boutiques, restaurants, and educational institutions. The funds raised from the festival every year are directed towards the restoration efforts undertaken by the association.
Surrounded by institutions like the Jehangir Art Gallery, Max Mueller Bhavan, Bombay University, Prince of Wales Museum, National Gallery of Modern Art, and David Sassoon Library, the festival is the centre of cultural activity. Expect to see artists, performers, and craftspeople gather to celebrate art in a variety of forms. Art connoisseurs from across the globe flock to the city to be a part of this diverse cultural celebration!
What to do?
Indulge yourself in visual arts, architecture, dance, music, theatre, cinema, literature, workshops, and heritage walks through a number of curated experiences. The vibrant street section here is installed with stalls selling eco-friendly, handmade arts and crafts wares, with events being held in Cross Maidan and Horniman Circle as well. There will also be food stalls, curated heritage walks and heritage bus tours to take you around.
Where to go?
The much-acclaimed art fiesta is celebrated at the Kala Ghoda district across 14 verticals, namely Children, Cinema, Dance, Food, Heritage Walks, Literature, Music, Stalls, Stand-Up Comedy, Street, Theatre, Urban Design, Visual Art, and Workshops.
The precinct roughly stretches from from the Regal Circle at the southern end of Mahatma Gandhi Road, up to the Mumbai University at the northern end, flanked by the Oval Maidan to its west and the Lion Gate to its east.
When to go?
This year, the festival begins on February 4 and goes on till February 12, running from 10.00 am to 10.00 pm every day.
How to plan a visit?
Entry to the festival area is free for all. For more information, visit kalaghodaassociation.com
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