The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Talks, parade to usher in `Bangalore Habba'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 24, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Talks, parade to usher in `Bangalore Habba'

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, NOV. 23. When `Bangalore Habba' hit town last year with its colourful array of dancers, musicians, painters and decorated walkways, crowds thronged the venues. Riding on a hyperactive promotion programme, the Habba struck a chord with the Bangalorean.

A year later, the Habba is ready for an encore. Impressed by the success of the festival last year, Alliance Francaise has already got into the Habba mood and is preparing for a series of pre-event seminars from November 29 to December 6. Now, get ready for a week of interactive talks and a ringside view of the world of Indian art.

Nandini Alva and Kumar Iyengar will team up to introduce you to the "Bangalore Habba" concept on November 29 at 7 p.m. At 10 a.m. the next day, U.R. Ananthamurthy will present a session on Kannada literature. Watch out for M. Lestang and his presentation on "Introduction to urbanisation of Bangalore city" the same day at 7 p.m.

Session on theatre

At 10 a.m. on December 1, a session on "Indian theatre" will be organised by Prakash Belawadi and one on "Indian literature in English" by Anita Nair.

Indian classical dance will make its presence felt at a presentation by Kiran Subramaniam and Sandhya Kiran on December 2. At 7 p.m. the same day, expect something fashionable from Prasad Bidapa, designer.

If you are tired of speeches, wait for a day for Jayachandran and his Attakkalari performance — on December 3 at 10 a.m.

On the same day, Reema Parashar will give a glimpse of Indian cinema, before Prakash Sontakke brings the curtains down on the seminar series with a talk on "Indian music" on December 6 at 7 p.m.

`Eco Fun Parade'

Bangalore's growing international community will join the citizens to colour the city green with an "Eco Fun Parade" on December 5, the day of the grand Habba launch. Along with the Artistes' Foundation for the Arts (AFFA), Alliance Francaise has invited every international organisation in town to join a parade to Vidhana Soudha. Motor vehicles will give way to bicycles and other eco-friendly vehicles as the parade winds its way through Nrupatunga Road and Kasturba Road to the Vidhana Soudha. The city police are expected to ban traffic on these roads from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Eric Rousseau, Alliance Francaise director, puts the parade in a nutshell: "It is an effort to rediscover our surroundings in a new light by providing a fresh lease of life to our feet, bicycles, roller-skates, etc., and contribute to our environment. It is also an occasion for all Bangaloreans, those from the international community living in the city and schools and organisations to celebrate Bangalore and its beauty."

Prizes

To keep up the momentum, the organisers are ready with some big prizes for the best way to celebrate the parade. Air France will sponsor a trip for two to Paris and back as the top prize.

A night's stay at the Leela Palace with one dinner awaits the runner-up.

The third prize is two nights' stay for a couple at Hotel de L'Orient in Pondicherry. A fourth prize promises two days' stay for a couple at Serenity in Wayanad, Kerala.

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