Sensing Local

Going local is a feeling. 

A feeling, to experience blending.

A feeling, to understand the roots of a system.

A feeling, which can only be experienced first hand!

Colourful fabrics with diverse patterns and materials. Colourful beads in different sizes and materials. New additions in findings and threads - becoming the surprise element! All this selected from HUGE quantities - a world so big to explore!

Adding to this ambience, are the eateries ageing with time - yet, having the same essence. Narrow lanes transform into a cricket playground for the children. Heat getting shadowed by the excited crowds on the streets. Vehicles getting panic-struck to make a way! Nostalgia revived!

Arrival using the local public transport system - a local wholesale market - fresh raw materials! Results? A virtual memory file in a physical human brain! A blank page with a whole new set of ingredients, inspiring new creations!

It feels privileged to experience this first-hand since over a decade! Every visit is definitely a memory - passed on in every handmade band of beads creation. Self-selected raw materials which best suit the expression gives wings to an artist. Can this really be mass-made? A dilemma, which intrigues.

CAC @Bhoomi Santhe

Lush greenery for all the senses - that's Bhoomi Santhe!  

On entering the Bhoomi Network/College/Prakriya campus, there's a sudden pause - the sound of birds, a glimpse of the organic farming practices, drinking water stored in earthen/metal pots, traditional structures that require no additional lighting or cooling... - a perfect pause in an urban setup. Adding to this is an organic produce market, directly from the Bhoomi farms and the "tindi" area offering local delicacies from the Bhoomi Kitchen!

A pathway in the santhe

Nested in this setting, is another beautiful pathway to the workshop hall...

All set for the "Community Art Circle" (CAC) workshop!

CAC Poster

Workshops for the day

The workshop space proved to be a sensory treat! A spacious hall with natural ventilation, cool breeze, clean air and birds chirping on the trees, just a few feet away from the window. The traditional floor seating set the stage! A perfect setup for imaginative art and stories in a community!

Forming the "Circle"!

The room buzzed with sounds of surprising questions, answers, prompts, drawings, coloring, stories - all out of the box! The art extempore left me speechless. The interest in sustainability practices in art impressed me - fabric scraps in a crochet creation, dual-side paper use, recycling - this audience knew it all!

The kids once again, demonstrated that imagination does wonders to all. It takes you out of the box. And once you are out of the box, there are no boundaries or rules. The mind is set free for expression! All this in a community setting, through stories and art! 

band of beads is thankful to Bhoomi for being a great host. A special mention of all the participating kids and their parents for being a part of the CAC. A treat for sure!

Bhoomi Santhe continues to be a space where local farmers, artisans, and vendors can showcase their products and connect with the community. - Email flyer by Bhoomi Network

Makkala Hubba

"Makkala" - a Kannada word, roughly meaning "for the children".

Makkala Hubba, a sub festival of the city-wide celebration, BLR Hubba; was hosted at the venue, Freedom Park. A hospital block in the freedom struggle-era jail premises, was transformed into an imagination escape for kids! The various exhibits provided education and fun - both at the same time! A few of them include ... the glowing Phytoplankton world, draw your city, minimal surfaces in motion, kere party, follow the butterflies... and the mega-size board game, which explored the various cuisines of Karnataka!

I had the privilege to mediate the idea of the mega board game to the kids. The huge scale of the game - especially the dice; and the goodies on finishing the game, struck the chord! Culinary knowledge - Ingredients, recipes and utensils - explored through play - what a sight! The sticker book - for the various dishes on the map of Karnataka - was everyone's favorite! Sensory MasterChef-like challenges added a twist to the game! Children had a fun coloring zone as well! Aah... even adults wished to be a kid!

It was an absolute pleasure to be among kids from various backgrounds and get a peek in their world of imagination. The "6-7" excitement and their presence of mind in various recipes and ingredients - "red chilli" in Kannada as "Kempu Menasinekai" for the famous GI tagged Byadagi Chilli - was contagious!

I also met some attendees of my puppet show sessions, who instantly recognized me, despite a new setup - "Hey... we saw you host the Panchatantra Story puppet show session! We did a craft... when are you coming back?" Also got a chance to meet distinguished people - creators of the festival - who saw it all come to life.

A refreshing twist to play in an urban setup - little smiles and excitement in the air! band of beads is thankful to BLR Hubba-Makkala Hubba, Bachpan Manao and Nivaala for providing this opportunity. Hope to see you soon!

Rasthe Hubba

Respect for fine art - something which is quite rare...

Not in Banaswadi, Bengaluru!

band of beads had the privilege to exhibit the handcrafted theme bead products for sale at Banaswadi Rasthe Hubba. A sub-festival of the city wide celebration - BLR Hubba, Rasthe Hubba brought a community feeling on the streets of various neighbourhoods of Bengaluru - Koramangala, Sanjay Nagara, Pandura Nagara, Malleshwaram, Basawanagudi, Banaswadi - to name a few. Supported by the Government of Karnataka and Bangalore Expo, this event was a great effort to bring everyone together.

Social Media Flyer

With a huge crowd of warm people, stage performances, games, beautiful rangolis and a flea market offering local produce, this hubba was nothing short of a perfect Sunday outing. Banaswadi was a region unexplored by band of beads. But, our guests welcomed us with great respect for handmade, noticing every detail - applique banner, corrugated paper visiting cards, "handmade at home" products and even newspaper carry bags! Your interest in handmade was evident right from the setup till the time we wrapped up the stall! This is what keeps us going!

band of beads is grateful to each and every guest, performer and the organizers of this event. Hoping to see you again!