Bengaluru Jatre to bring citywide cultural celebrations from December 4

Bengaluru: Bengaluru is set to celebrate its own citywide cultural festival, with the Karnataka government announcing ‘Bengaluru Jatre’ from December 4 to 13. The 10-day event will showcase the city’s culture, art, literature and diverse traditions through programmes organised at multiple locations.

Announcing the festival on Friday, Bengaluru Urban Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said the government had decided to organise a city festival after the success of Freedom Habba and the Chief Minister’s suggestion to hold a major celebration for Bengaluru residents.

Unlike festivals restricted to a single venue, Bengaluru Jatre will be spread across different parts of the city. Government agencies, educational institutions, private organisations and other establishments will be encouraged to organise programmes as part of the celebrations.

The Bengaluru Metro, police department, BESCOM and other government agencies have been asked to participate. Invitations will also be extended to IT companies, private educational institutions, Central government departments and institutions such as the Indian Institute of Science. Hotels and restaurants have also been approached and requested to participate as organisers. The minister said the festival was intended to make the celebrations a collective effort involving different sections of Bengaluru.

Registration will be mandatory for large-scale programmes, while smaller events will not require registration. Organisers of major events will have to register at least 15 days in advance. The government is also planning major programmes at a central location, particularly during weekends. A national-level event is proposed for the concluding day, with the venue to be finalised in consultation with the police department.

Government-organised programmes will not carry any participation fee. Private companies and organisations are being encouraged to conduct events, with the organisers free to decide whether to charge for their programmes. Events will be held across the five municipal corporations of Bengaluru. Government offices, educational institutions, parks and roads will also serve as venues for various programmes.

The Kannada and Culture Department will organise folk-art performances, while themes such as ‘Namma Raste’, ‘Namma Badaavane’, ‘Namma Samsthe’ and ‘Namma Kale’ will form part of the celebrations. The Greater Bengaluru Authority, Bengaluru Development Authority and Kannada and Culture Department will jointly support the festival. The Kannada and Culture Department alone has earmarked ₹5 crore for the event. The government has estimated an overall expenditure of ₹15 crore to ₹20 crore for Bengaluru Jatre. Officials believe the festival could attract more tourists, promote the city’s cultural identity and contribute to Bengaluru’s economic activity.

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The Hans India