Pramesh S Jain
*People from different parts of Karnataka and other states who have made Bengaluru their home will showcase their art,culture,heritage,ethnic wear in the day long celebrations in front of around Vidhana Soudha.
*Vidhana Soudha and the roads leading to it to become a cultural corridor with a People’s Parade,community performances,music,regional cuisine,crafts.
*Special focus on children and youngsters to participate in the celebrations and have a memorable day including access to the grand Assembly Hall inside Vidhana Soudha.
*Rooted in Kannada language,heritage and values,and celebrating every community that today calls Bengaluru home,Freedom Habba lives the them“Namma Ooru. Nimma Ooru.Ellara Bengaluru.
*Freedom Habba will showcase Bengaluru’s unity in diversity through a grand cultural celebration.
Bengaluru will mark the nation’s Independence Day in a manner never attempted before.Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda today announced Freedom Habba,a first-of-its-kind,citizen-led festival—a coming together and celebration of freedom by Bengalureans representing the diverse communities that have made Bengaluru their home.
Freedom Habba transforms Independence Day from a ceremonial government function into a day-long people’s celebration of freedom,democracy,diversity and culture.
Announcing the initiative,Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said Freedom Habba rests on a simple but powerful idea:Independence Day must belong to every citizen.
“For decades,Independence Day has largely been a ceremony that citizens watch.We want to transform it into a festival that citizens create together.
Freedom Habba is not a government event to observe;it is Bengaluru’s festival to celebrate,build and own together.Freedom is best celebrated when the people themselves become the celebration.”
Freedom Habba:
Sharing details,Krishna Byre Gowda said Freedom Habba is conceived as a first-of-its-kind, people-centric Independence Day celebration that transforms the spirit of August 15 from a ceremonial observance into a vibrant,city-wide festival of freedom,culture and civic pride.
Bringing together Bengalureans from every walk of life, the festival will celebrate both Karnataka’s rich heritage and India’s extraordinary cultural diversity through a grand parade of communities representing different States, traditional attire,folk,arts,music,dance,crafts and cultural performances.
Citizens representing Kannada,Tamil,Telugu,Malayalam, Bengali,Gujarati,Hindi,Odia and several other linguistic traditions,including communities from the North Eastern States,will participate alongside representatives from Kodagu,Mangaluru,North Karnataka and other regions of the State,making Vidhana Soudha the stage for a living celebration of India’s unity in diversity.
Freedom Habba invites families,children,artists,cultural organisations and communities to come together in a shared celebration of freedom
Organised under the leadership and vision of Chief Minister,D.K.Shivakumar,who envisioned the celebrations as a people-owned festival and suggested they be held in front of Vidhana Soudha,Freedom Habba will begin at 11 am,following the official Independence Day ceremony at the Parade Ground,and continue until 10 PM, transforming the roads leading to and surrounding Vidhana Soudha into a vibrant cultural corridor.
*Celebrating India’s unity and Bengaluru’s cultural diversity:
The day will feature a colourful India Parade of nearly 40 contingents,an immersive Living Museum on the freedom movement, district-themed pavilions on Karnataka’s contribution to the Independence struggle,a Constitution Square,children’s learning and activity zones,guided tours of the Vidhana Soudha,a 200-foot public art wall,Soul Sante stalls,an evening music concert and a grand fireworks finale.
Together,these will offer citizens a rare opportunity to celebrate the spirit of freedom through learning, participation and community engagement.The detailed programme is enclosed in the Annexure.
At the heart of the festival lies an idea that has long defined Bengaluru: people may come from different States,speak different languages and follow different traditions,yet they all contribute to one shared city.
Freedom Habba celebrates that lived reality,Bengaluru not merely as Karnataka’s capital,but as a miniature India where diversity is experienced every single day.
“This is a celebration of how our many cultures, languages and traditions together create the identity of Bengaluru.That is the idea of India,and that is the spirit of Bengaluru,”the Minister said.
Vidhana Soudha opens its doors to the city’s children:
Children are at the centre of the celebration.Many children will have the rare opportunity to step inside the majestic Vidhana Soudha for most of them,for the very first time connecting them not only with one of the State’s greatest institutions but also with the ideals of democracy and citizenship that it represents.
“We are opening the doors of the Vidhana Soudha to our children.I want every child who walks through those doors on August 15 to go home with a memory that lasts a lifetime.
Democracy must not remain something children only read about in textbooks;they should experience it in the very institution where it comes alive.
We want our children to celebrate not only our freedom, but also to understand the values, institutions and shared citizenship that sustain our democracy,”the Minister said.
Alongside the guided tours,a Makkala Mela,a Children’s Freedom Village where performers bring freedom fighters to life,interactive learning games,storytelling and craft workshops have been designed to make the day educational as well as enjoyable for young citizens.
*Every Bengalurean must be a participant,not a spectator:
Instead of standing behind barricades watching official ceremonies,citizens themselves will take centre stage as performers,volunteers,artists,cultural ambassadors and participants.
With folk performances,traditional music,community processions and cultural presentations transforming the roads leading to and around Vidhana Soudha into a vibrant cultural corridor,Freedom Habba is designed to invite participation rather than mere observation.
“I appeal to every Bengalurean to be a participant,not just a spectator.Don’t just watch the celebrations-be a part of them.This is your festival.Come,build it with us,” the Minister said.
He urged citizens to register for the various events and activities through the dedicated Freedom Habba website and helpline,details of which will be announced within the next 48 hours,as well as through the Government’s official social media platforms.He encouraged families to plan the day as a celebration of freedom,democracy and togetherness.
Namma Ooru.Nimma Ooru.Nammellara Bengaluru:
The celebrations will carry the message“Namma Ooru. Nimma Ooru.Nammellara Bengaluru”Our City.Your City. Everyone’s City,Bengaluru.
“We celebrate India the Bengaluru way—deeply rooted in Kannada culture,yet with our doors and our hearts open to every Indian who calls Bengaluru home.Freedom Habba is a celebration of that generous spirit,”the Minister said.
Freedom Habba: Programme Highlights:
_August 15 | Vidhana Soudha and surrounding areas and roads |.
_12 noon to 10 PM:Freedom Parade: Nearly 40 contingents representing India’s diverse cultures, Karnataka’s regions and professionals will take part in a colourful Independence Day parade featuring folk performances, music and live cultural showcases.
Makkala Mela (Children’s Fair):A dedicated children’s zone with interactive games,storytelling,arts,crafts, creative workshops and family activities designed to make learning about freedom engaging and enjoyable.
Soul Sante Festival:More than 120 curated lifestyle, handicraft, organic, toy, textile and food stalls will create a vibrant festival atmosphere through the day.
Living Museum-Journey of Freedom:An immersive walk-through museum will recreate key milestones of India’s freedom movement through installations, artefacts,live performances and commemorative postcards.
Karnataka Freedom Path:District-themed pavilions will celebrate Karnataka’s contribution to the freedom struggle through theatre, cultural displays,local traditions and participation by Bengaluru’s district communities.
Constitution Square:Visitors can explore galleries on the Constituent Assembly,view rare constitutional archives and take part in collective readings of the Preamble through the day.
Children’s Freedom Village:Freedom fighters brought to life by performers will engage children through quizzes, interactive learning and instant rewards to encourage awareness of India’s freedom movement.
Children’s Guided Tour of the Vidhana Soudha:Young visitors and their families will have a rare opportunity to explore the Legislature through specially curated guided tours led by trained volunteers.
Freedom Wall: A 200-foot public art installation will invite citizens to express what freedom means to them through writing,painting and collaborative artwork.
Freedom Collective Music Festival: Leading musicians and artists will headline a grand evening concert celebrating India’s cultural diversity with performances in Kannada and other Indian languages,culminating in a community sing-along.
Grand Fireworks Finale:Freedom Habba will conclude with a spectacular pyrotechnic display over the Vidhana Soudha,creating a landmark Independence Day finale for Bengaluru.
