Kala Ghoda Arts Festival

Last weekend and the upcoming one, the Kala Ghoda Arts Association is hosting its annual art festival celebrating literature, film, theatre, music, visual arts and dance. It's open from February 4th through the 12th.

Saturday, I went to the festival with Barbara, Mike, Gretchen and Deb.  We arrived early, around 11, when things were just opening.



It was a warm, beautiful day.

I particularly enjoyed many of the sculptures on display, as you can see in my photos.  There were loads of local artisans selling their works, (I bought a diffuser with a lotus blossom design), non-for-profit organizations selling many hand-made items to support their work, beautiful saris, cool clocks and a stage set-up for performers.

A highlight for me included meeting some lovely teenage girl photographers.   A local NGO worked to empower the girls in their community.  They gave the girls cameras to capture family and friend moments.  The girl photographers followed their fathers (as best they could), mothers, sisters, brothers and grandparents in their daily activities. Daily life captured.  Their images included friends holding hands, a father at work in a hole and an adorable sibling eating their dinner.  The girls giggled through the introductions and the compliments.

If you live in Mumbai and haven't gone yet, it's worth a trip.  Beautiful artwork and if you link to their website, there's truly something for everyone.  I'm hoping to head back this Sunday for one of the heritage walks and maybe to connect again with the watch vendor I met as well.