In South Mumbai for nine days in February, I could not find a place to park due to The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival (KGAF). Starting on February 7th, a simple Fort mele becomes a melting pot for the city’s artists. I found this festival is like a dream come true for me or anyone else who appreciates art festivals. Be it a famed artist or a dancer from a neighboring village, this festival symbolises ‘unity in diversity’ and brings everyone together.
The KGAF is a festival, whether invited or not, anyone and everyone wants to participate. I was amazed how the uninvited sellers managed to get past the guards attention and sneak into the festival. A fringe of artists, performers, magicians, even brash street hawkers have managed to fit their way in. Everyone wants to directly or indirectly be a part of this prestigious and highly celebrated Kala Ghoda Arts Festival. Thousands of people either staying at the many Hotels India Mumbai or the throngs of locals enter the festival to check out the latest happenings or buy something at the stalls inside.
Hawkers use their sales strategies to persuade tourist and locals to buy their wares makes for a dizzying and exciting affair. Kala Ghoda is the best place to sell their goods because so many people attend the festivities. There are now more fringe sellers, the ‘uninvited part of the festival’, who sneak into the festival from the side openings, than the invited art sellers. You name it and they are there from drum sellers to poster sellers, scarf sellers, peacock feather sellers and the list is truly endless. This festival is a profitable time for all legitimate sellers and for all fringe sellers because even foreigners come and they give a good price for all the items being sold. There are even roaming sellers carrying their wares on their clothes or a sword seller, a balloon seller and a flute seller are smart enough to set up their stands along the side of the permanent stalls attracting the children wanting their parents to buy the swords, balloons and flutes. I too over spent my money on the many wonderful artists and their wares.