Had spent our last Sunday, so to speak our valentine’s day, at Kala Ghoda Festival.... checking out the stalls, testing the functionalities of our new camera (read previous post) and of course enjoying the last day of the festival. During the week, there were some wonderful performances from various artists and performers.... Bharat Natyam, Kuchipuddi, Prince Dance Troop, Some African dancers, classical music, rock music, rap music, hip – hop and a lot of other things which we missed out on..... There were lot of exhibitions of some photographers, painters.... wonderful.... every exhibit had a theme..... every painting or a sketch telling something.... inspiring.... there was a small sketching competition also going on.... an open bus round in townside....
The Kala Ghoda festival has been going on since the last 11 – 12 years.... The organizers from various strata of the society..... a good mix of people.... living in Bombay....
This was just a glimpse of the rich culture of India.... a miniscule part.... which is presented to Bombay annually.... attracting all performing artists from various parts of the country.... all people here to enjoy.... the rich culture of India.... I guess that is what makes our country so unique, so rich and so very diverse....
Some photographs are available at the following link:
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/meghnagarg/KalaGhoda#
The sad part is when a selective group of people start considering a city, a culture, an heritage its own.... its business, its diversity, its money, its own... they fail to realize that what Bombay is today is not because a selective group of people who are the “Marathi Manoos” but because anyone and everyone who came to the city brought their own to give.... if they took, they have given much more than that.... so that since time immemorial, Bombay has been considered as a city of dreams.... a place where anyone who has a mind and a heart along with a strong will can make it big... the background of the individual does not matter... who he knows does not matter.... who he was does not matter.... what matters is what he is now..... and the possibility of what he is going to be.... tomorrow.... Nowhere in India, people work as hard a Mumbaikar.... no where in India, does half the population of the city travels hours together to work.... its very easy to give up.... its very to wish away.... but here, giving up is not an option.... from the fisherwoman to the mill owners to the corporate houses to the restaurants to the theatres to the colleges to the panwallas to the chawls, to the slums to the high rises, everyone is constantly on a move... to be something.... to achieve....that is what makes Mumbai what it is today.... but sadly and frustratingly and disgustingly Shiv Sena and MNS have taken it upon themselves the “cause” of Marathi Manoos.... mis representing their thoughts and sentiments. They are just a bunch of hooligans trying to meet their own ends.... and very soon, I think the process has already started, their agenda will bite the dust....
You can take me out of Bombay, but you cannot take Bombay out of me!!!
The Kala Ghoda festival has been going on since the last 11 – 12 years.... The organizers from various strata of the society..... a good mix of people.... living in Bombay....
This was just a glimpse of the rich culture of India.... a miniscule part.... which is presented to Bombay annually.... attracting all performing artists from various parts of the country.... all people here to enjoy.... the rich culture of India.... I guess that is what makes our country so unique, so rich and so very diverse....
Some photographs are available at the following link:
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/meghnagarg/KalaGhoda#
The sad part is when a selective group of people start considering a city, a culture, an heritage its own.... its business, its diversity, its money, its own... they fail to realize that what Bombay is today is not because a selective group of people who are the “Marathi Manoos” but because anyone and everyone who came to the city brought their own to give.... if they took, they have given much more than that.... so that since time immemorial, Bombay has been considered as a city of dreams.... a place where anyone who has a mind and a heart along with a strong will can make it big... the background of the individual does not matter... who he knows does not matter.... who he was does not matter.... what matters is what he is now..... and the possibility of what he is going to be.... tomorrow.... Nowhere in India, people work as hard a Mumbaikar.... no where in India, does half the population of the city travels hours together to work.... its very easy to give up.... its very to wish away.... but here, giving up is not an option.... from the fisherwoman to the mill owners to the corporate houses to the restaurants to the theatres to the colleges to the panwallas to the chawls, to the slums to the high rises, everyone is constantly on a move... to be something.... to achieve....that is what makes Mumbai what it is today.... but sadly and frustratingly and disgustingly Shiv Sena and MNS have taken it upon themselves the “cause” of Marathi Manoos.... mis representing their thoughts and sentiments. They are just a bunch of hooligans trying to meet their own ends.... and very soon, I think the process has already started, their agenda will bite the dust....
You can take me out of Bombay, but you cannot take Bombay out of me!!!
Kala Ghoda festival has always been close to my heart. I am sure this will continue for years to come and expand its reach to international level, it cannnot be dominated by silly political parties.
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