25th edition of Kala Ghoda Arts Festival: How Asia’s largest street festival revitalised a neighborhood

The translation began 26 years agone erstwhile a tiny radical of creation and practice enthusiasts launched an arts and civilization festival aimed astatine revitalising the practice arts district. What started arsenic a humble effort has grown into Asia’s largest multidisciplinary thoroughfare arts festival—the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival (KGAF),which has been held annually since its inception successful 1999, with the objection of Kala Ghoda  2022. “We moved the 2021 variation online, hoping to instrumentality on-ground the pursuing year, but different question hit. Organising the festival takes tremendous effort, truthful we decided to forgo the 2022 variation altogether, making this the 25th edition,” Miller explained.

Miller said the festival was conceived to spotlight the area’s stunning neo-Gothic buildings, Victorian ensemble, and Art Deco structures. (Express Photo By Ganesh Shirsekar)

Scheduled from January 25 to February 2, the festival promises implicit 400 programs crossed 25 venues, encompassing music, arts, dance, theatre, literature, cinema, food, practice walks, stand-up comedy, and children’s events. A standout diagnostic this twelvemonth is simply a bid of 25 equine installations commemorating the festival’s metallic jubilee.

Humble beginnings

The inaugural Kala Ghoda Arts Festival successful 1999 was a humble endeavor. “We began with a tiny radical organising 30 events implicit 14 days,” Miller shared, adding the festival was conceived to spotlight the area’s stunning neo-Gothic buildings, Victorian ensemble, and Art Deco structures. “We besides decided to transmission leftover funds from the festival into restoring practice monuments. Over the years, we’ve restored the David Sassoon Library, the Clock Tower, Muljee Jetha Fountain, Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue, and Police Courtyard Café, among others. Currently, we’re moving connected the facade of Elphinstone College. Many of these structures are receiving attraction due to the fact that of the revival question we initiated. We built the amphitheater connected the thoroughfare and brought Westside to the Army & Navy Building, which was antecedently neglected. Even Esplanade House is undergoing restoration. While the festival has outgrown these efforts, it’s important to punctual radical of the enactment we do,” she said, adding that their aboriginal advocacy for the pedestrianisation of Kala Ghoda is present taking signifier with enactment from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

With time, the festival has besides expanded its footprint. “Initially, events were held connected the streets and successful 2 creation galleries. Now, the festival has expanded venues similar Cross Maidan, David Sassoon Library, NGMA, and CSMVS. Music grew truthful overmuch that we adjacent hosted it astatine Azad Maidan for a twelvemonth earlier returning to Cross Maidan,” noted Miller’s whose relation with KGAF began arsenic a subordinate of the assemblage during the debut edition. Captivated by the experience, she reached retired to Sangita Jindal, 1 of the festival’s founding members, to volunteer. “At first, she didn’t instrumentality maine seriously, but aft I persisted, I was asked to enactment connected a collaborative creation project. Two years later, I joined the committee,” she recalled.

Free for all

KGAF stands retired for its non-commercial attack — each events are free, making it accessible to everyone. “People tin ticker Farhan Akhtar execute oregon bask a tribute to Zakir Hussain without paying a rupee,” Miller said, adding that this inclusivity has transformed the festival’s assemblage implicit the years. “Initially, it was somewhat elitist, but we aboriginal decided to marque it democratic. Today, assemblage students marque up the largest stock of the crowd. It’s go a amusive hangout spot,” she observed.

KGAF continues to evolve, with 15 verticals catering to divers interests. (Express Archive Photo)

Despite occasional discussions astir introducing paid tickets, the squad has remained committed to keeping the festival free. “Charging would complicate things with permissions, taxes, and the wide tone of the festival. The authorities has supported america due to the fact that we’re escaped and inclusive,” Miller explained.

Challenges and triumphs

From ineligible battles implicit sound and restrictions connected utilizing nationalist spaces to heightened information station the 2008 Mumbai attacks, KGAF has faced its stock of challenges. “After the attacks, we had to present stringent information measures similar Digital Multifunction Detectors. This improved the assemblage quality, but managing queues became a caller challenge,” Miller recalled.

Funding is different perennial hurdle. “Arts ne'er get capable funding. While we’ve had accordant enactment from sponsors, we’ve ever had to enactment hard to unafraid the adjacent year’s budget,” she admitted. Despite these struggles, the festival’s well-behaved and appreciative assemblage keeps the squad motivated. “Mumbai’s assemblage is incredible. They convey america for our work, which makes it each worthwhile,” she said.

Looking ahead

KGAF continues to evolve, with 15 verticals catering to divers interests. Music remains the astir fashionable segment, followed intimately by ocular arts. “Music is our astir costly segment, requiring top-notch stage, sound, and lighting setups. But what makes KGAF peculiar is the unsocial blend of thoroughfare art, installations, and performances you won’t find elsewhere,” Miller shared, adding that newer verticals similar stand-up drama person besides gained traction.

This year, the festival introduces a manner conception covering manner and wellness. Miller emphasised that portion the festival adapts to modern trends, it remains rooted successful its ngo to observe and sphere Mumbai’s heritage. “The festival is bigger than each of america now. It’s a labour of love, and we’re arrogant to spot however it has transformed the country and brought radical together,” Miller signed off.

The festival starts connected Saturday, afloat docket connected kalaghodaassociation.com.