Bengaluru is all set to host its first-ever “Freedom Habba” to celebrate Independence Day with a large-scale public festival featuring a grand parade, cultural performances, exhibitions, children’s activities and guided tours of the Vidhana Soudha. The event will be held on August 15 and is intended to turn Independence Day from a ceremonial occasion into a citywide celebration that involves citizens. Scroll down to know more.
Bengaluru To Host Its First-Ever “Freedom Habba”
Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda stated that the festival will highlight India’s cultural diversity, with people from different languages and regional communities participating in the celebrations.
The event will start at 11 am, right after the official Independence Day ceremony at the Parade Ground, and proceed until 10 pm. The roads around Vidhana Soudha will be turned into a cultural corridor for the day. The highlight of the event will be a Freedom Parade featuring nearly 40 contingents representing India’s diverse cultures, Karnataka’s regions, and various professional communities. The parade will feature folk performances, music and live cultural showcases.
Children will have a special role in the celebrations, with the Makkala Mela offering games, storytelling, art, craft workshops and family activities. A separate Children’s Freedom Village will feature performers portraying freedom fighters and engaging children through quizzes and interactive activities.
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Festival To Feature Food, Handicrafts & Textile Stalls
For the first time, children and families will also be able to enter Vidhana Soudha through specially curated guided tours led by trained volunteers. Other attractions include the Living Museum: Journey of Freedom, which will recreate important moments from India’s freedom movement through installations, artefacts and performances. The Karnataka Freedom Path will feature district-themed pavilions highlighting the state’s contribution to the freedom struggle. Visitors can also explore Constitution Square, featuring galleries on the Constituent Assembly, constitutional archives and readings of the Preamble.
The festival will also feature more than 120 Soul Sante stalls selling food, handicrafts, textiles, toys and other products, along with a 200-foot public art wall, an evening music concert and a fireworks finale.
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The celebrations will carry the message “Namma Ooru, Nimma Ooru, Nammellara Bengaluru”, meaning Bengaluru belongs to everyone.
Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
FAQs
Where will Bengaluru Habba 2026 be held?
The event is scheduled to take place at Cubbon Park and around Vidhana Soudha.