Joy of Open Street grabs Bengaluru

BENGALURU: On Sunday morning, hundreds of Bengalureans decided to step out of the comfort of their homes as the iconic landmark,

Vidhana Soudha

, was opened to the public. Ambedkar Veedhi was closed to traffic, but welcomed pedestrians and celebrated Namma Bengaluru Habba.

Yoga, zumba, games, live music, cycling, skating, shopping and food kept citizens busy from 7am to 9pm. “The last time I came to Vidhana Soudha was 30 years ago. To claim this as our space for a day is unbelievable. We need these festivals more often because this is our connection to the true spirit of Bengaluru,” said

Sai Ganapathi

, 78.

More than 30 stalls sold organic and eco-friendly products such as terracotta jewellery, natural soaps, grains, plants and handicrafts.

Traditional performers such as Chaluvaraj from Tumakuru showcased the folk form,

Dollu Kunitha

(drum dance), while skateboarders and cyclists performed stunts.

Bengaluru-based Drum-Jam, a community-building initiative by actor-singer Vasundhara Das, captivated the crowd with intense rhythms. “This is the biggest community platform we can get to feel connected to people around us,” said one of the drummers.

Music bands Aathma, Almost Blue and

Swarathma

kept the show going. Workshops on pottery, coffee painting and more kept art lovers busy. As the sun set on Vidhana Soudha, lights twinkled on the growing crowd, while artistes performed a veena ensemble. In keeping with the Christmas spirit, residents joined in a session of carol singing on the eve of the festival.

“The best part about this Open Street was the marvellous architecture in the backdrop. It’s good to see the government promoting such healthy festivals,” said resident Manyata Kumar.