Second edition of ‘Gurugram Kala-Utsav’ begins

Gurugram, India: Hyundai Motor India Foundation (HMIF), the CSR arm of Hyundai Motor India Ltd. (HMIL), inaugurated the 2nd edition of “Gurugram Kala-Utsav” to support small handicraft businesses on Thursday.

For the last 2 years, the “Gurugram Kala-Utsav”, in collaboration with the Kalagram Society of Fine Arts initiative, with support from Gurugram District Administration, (under Shri. Nishant Kumar Yadav (IAS), Deputy Commissioner, Gurugram) has been organized at MCG Amphitheatre, Gurugram.

This year, the Artisan Fest is being held from the 21st to the 24th of September, and over 30 exhibitors including specially-abled artists, NGOs supporting women and children from underprivileged backgrounds and rural communities, and Craftpreneurs promoting sustainable crafts will be participating.

The four-day fest was inaugurated by Shri. Hitesh Kumar Meena, IAS, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Gurugram in the presence of Shri. Gaurav Singh, CEO, Haryana State CSR Trust, Mr. Puneet Anand, AVP & Vertical Head – Corporate Affairs, Hyundai Motor India Ltd., Mr. S. S. Hong, Group Advisor – Corporate Affairs, Hyundai Motor India Ltd., officials from Kalagram Society and other government dignitaries.

Speaking at the inauguration, Shri. Nishant Kumar Yadav (IAS), Deputy Commissioner – Gurugram said, “With Gurugram’s vibrant culture scene and growing artistic community, the district has evolved into a thriving hub for creativity and nurturing artisans. We are elated to come together with the Hyundai Motor India Foundation (HMIF) for the second year of ‘Gurugram Kala-Utsav’. ‘Kala Utsav’ has consistently provided artisans with a shared platform to showcase traditional crafts, with the support of Kalagram Society and District Administration. The platform has played a pivotal role in enriching the cultural tapestry of Gurugram. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Hyundai Motor India for supporting the cultural enrichment in the city.”

In addition to being a platform for city-based craft and artisan businesses, the Kala-Utsav has also been instrumental in building a community of art and cultural enthusiasts in the city. Together with the district administration of Gurugram, HMIF plans to establish ‘Kala-Utsav’ as a defining festival. The collaboration has also aided in popularising the venue MCG Amphitheatre which has been a host to many other art and cultural events through efforts of Kalagram since the last Kala-Utsav in collaboration with Hyundai Motor India Foundation.

Commenting on the inauguration, Mr. Puneet Anand, AVP & Vertical Head – Corporate Affairs, Hyundai Motor India Ltd. said, “Under Hyundai’s global brand vision ‘Progress for Humanity’, HMIL has been a strong believer of creativity, talent, and innovation and has come forward to support the arts and culture community in India through various CSR programs in Art. Our annual Artisan Fest is envisioned to be a platform for recognition, sales, and visibility to small artisans, craftpreneurs, rural crafts, and NGOs. We also want to bring forward creativity from all strata of society to the forefront. By leveraging HMIL’s extensive network and resources, we are committed to fostering sustainable growth for these talented artisans, thus contributing to the preservation of India’s rich cultural heritage. We are optimistic that like the past years, this year also our participants will gain positively from the Fest. We also extend our gratitude to the District Administration and MCG, Gurugram for their unwavering support in the endeavour. Together, let’s create a brighter future for the artistic community and showcase the power of art.”

In the four-day event, visitors will have the opportunity to explore a variety of engaging activities and attractions. These will include interactive workshops for children, aimed at fostering creativity. The fest will also have food stalls offering a delightful culinary experience, while live art demonstrations will captivate audiences with creativity and skill.

Attendees will also be treated to a captivating showcase of diverse cultural performances including enchanting musical performances by Bikanerwala aka Sourav Gahlot, Sh Satish Kumar, Ritu Jain, and captivating Odissi, Dogri, and Kathak dance performances by students of Geetanjali Acharya, Manju Wazir and Anu Rawal and soul-stirring poetry recitals by popular poets of the city. A chai chaupaal (creators talk) and creators meetup is also planned during the fest.

Photography enthusiasts of the city can also participate in the online photography competition by sharing their best photographs of the event. Details can be found on Kalagram Society’s social media pages. Additionally, this time, winners will also be awarded cash prizes and certificates at the closing ceremony.

Among the 30 exhibitors, some of the organizations that will be exhibiting are:

>Wheeled Fortune, a pottery school led by women artisans, dedicated to promoting Traditional Haryana pottery.

>Aavyaa, a youth start-up that engages rural communities in the manufacturing of artisanal fragrances, incense sticks, and other related products.

>Assisted living for autistic persons (ALAP), showcasing decorative items made in fluid art by autistic children.

>Pallavanjali Inclusive School, a special school that facilitates income generation for the specially-abled through the production of bakery and artisan food items.

>Story maker by Agrasar, an organization that empowers and generates income for women by upcycling utility products from textile waste.

>Avacayam, an employment program for people with disabilities engages them in upcycling waste products to make sustainable household items.

>Jaggery, a zero waste initiative of Meaningful Design Foundation works with car seat belts, ex-army canvas, waste from the aviation industry, and cargo belts with more crafted materials like Cane weaving, Pattu, and Kantha.

>Tvaksutra, Knots and Crosses, Bharti NK Crafts, Anshu Malik, and Pooja Singh are also some of the exhibitors.