Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2024 - Dates, Venue, Events

The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival is without a doubt one of the most awaited festivals each year. Held annually, it is an exhibition and celebration of theatre, music, films, comedy and world art. It is held every year in Mumbai and attracts over 150,000 people from the city and beyond. 2024 marks the 25th edition of this festival which will be held in the Kala Ghoda Art District as it has been in the past years. 

Kala Ghoda Festival Dates & Timings 2024

Dates: 20th January 2024 to 28th January 2024
Timings: Daily, 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM

Venue for the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2024

The festival takes place within the historic Kala Ghoda Art District. It is open to all, free of charge. The boundaries of the subdivided district can be roughly traced from the Regal Circle at the Southern end to the Mumbai University in the northern end; from the Oval Maidan to the west and the Lion Gate to the east.

The district is blessed with rich architecture and heritage. A blend of Indo-Saracenic, Neo-Gothic, and Neo-Classical styled buildings highlight the district. Famous architectural wonders include the Elphinstone College, David Sassoon Library, Jehangir Art Gallery, Bombay University, Prince of Wales Museum, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS), and the Army and Navy buildings.

The different sections are held in various venues:
Children- Lawns at CSMVS
Cinema- Cross Maidan at MG Road
Food-Mahatma Gandhi Road, Churchgate
Music-Cross Maidan at MG Road
Theatre and Visual Arts- Horniman Circle Garden
Stand up Comedy- Irish House
Workshops- Artisans at VB Gandhi Marg

Entry Fee for the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival

There is no entry fee for the festival. Anyone is welcome into the celebrations free of cost.

Events for the Kala Ghoda Festival 2024

For this edition of the festival, there will be events across 14 categories.

1. Dance 

The themes will range from Indian classical and contemporary to international dance forms. All of the dance events will be held in the Cross Maidan at Mahatma Gandhi Road, Churchgate.

2. Food

This edition will feature exciting food walks, demonstrations and stalls that'll highlight the importance of  local ingredients and dishes

3. For Children

There will be 77 events aimed at children this year. The various workshops and activities will be organised on all days at the Museum of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (11:00 am to early evening). The literature events will be held at Somaiya Bhavan and Kitab Khana.

4. Theatre

35 plays across various languages such as Hindi, English, Gujarati and Parsi are scheduled which will be held at Horniman Circle Gardens, MC Ghia Hall (Kala Ghoda) and the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA).

5. Music

Numerous concerts are lined up with eclectic genres. Some famous artists are Mugdha Hasabnis (who will pay a tribute to Lata Mangeshkar), Jonita Gandhi, Sahar Zaman, Lydian Nadhaswaram, Nikhil Patwardhan, Shilpa Rao, Taufiq Qureshi, Ayaan and Amaan Ali Bangash. All of the musical events will be held at Cross Maidan and some will be held at the Asiatic Library Steps.

6. Movies and Films

Movies and documentary related events will be held in Coomaraswamy Hall and Visitors’ Centre at CSMVS. This year, movies of themes like LGBTQIA+, regional and off-beat genres will be showcased. There will also be workshops and discussions on acting.

7. Literature

There will be book launches, poetry sessions, discussions with authors and many more. All of the literary events for the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival will be held in the David Sassoon Library (DSL). The Primary subjects for this year's Kala Ghoda Arts Festival are-

• A Tryst with Democracy
• India’s Place in the New World Dis-Order
• Seeing Ourselves
• Clear Lens on the City

8. Visual Arts

Innovative visual art installations are always a major attraction in every edition of the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival. This year will be no different.  Art installations will be put up in Horniman Circle Garden, Cross Maidan, Artists’ Centre at K Dubash Marg and the Art Entrance at Army-Navy Building.

9. Heritage Walks 

Heritage walk events and Bus rides have been planned for this year around various parts of Mumbai. The events are curated by Bharat Gothoskar.

10. Stalls 

Around 150 stalls are to be set up for the twentieth edition. Local artisans and other organisations will put on display clothes, shoes, bags, home decor and other items, etc. Every year people throng the stalls to get the first pick of the items. The booths will be lined along the Kala Ghoda Road and in the traffic triangle outside the Jehangir Art Gallery.

11. Workshops

The workshops will be held at Artists's Centre, Artisans' and Somaiya Centre for Lifelong Learning. Entry to all of the workshops is free. The theme for the 20th edition of the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival is 'Zest'. The workshops will be centred around the betterment and expression of self with more enthusiasm.

12. Urban Design and Architecture

These events feature talks, films, discussions, presentations and interviews based on the present scenario of the world of design, architecture and cities. Many prominent writers, designers, film-makers and artists will grace the events to share their own experiences from their respective fields. The events will be held at the Max Mueller Bhavan.

13. Stand Up Comedy

4 days of events will be held where established and up-coming comedians will be performing. The events are curated by  Shreemayee Das and Rohan Desai and will be held at Irish House at K Dubash Marg.

Theme 2024

The theme for this year is Udaan and you will see some exceptional creative work in the stalls section at the Rampart Row as well as the other sections. The stalls are a paradise for the shoppers!

Tips for the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival

1. If you are a non-local it is best to book accommodation early. Hotels and other lodges can fill up in the blink of an eye nearing the time of this festival.
2. Be sure to plan ahead of which events you want to attend. The venues can get pretty crowded quite early and you wouldn't want to miss the best seats in the house. It pays to be the early bird. 
3. Wear comfortable clothes. The weather during this time is springy.
4. Make sure to carry your cameras to capture all the colourful display of art, culture and food. We guarantee you will regret it later if you don't!!
5. Always keep an open mind. This festival is a melting pot of ideas and cultures. 

What is the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival?

Among the plethora of famous festivals in the city of Mumbai, the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival is one which is highly awaited each year. Since its inception in 1999, this festival has become the largest ethnic and multicultural festival of the city. It has managed to grow with leaps and bounds through the years and has drawn over hundreds and thousands of people from the city and from the country. The huge variety of events adds to the worth of watching this extravaganza of a fest.

The festival is organised by Kala Ghoda Association every year. There are twelve sections of the festival including visual arts, cinema, dance, theatre, music, workshops, literature, urban design and architecture, food, street section, heritage walks and a section for children.

Kala Ghoda Festival offers a vibrant spectrum of colour, culture and tradition. From heated literary and social discussions to workshops and book launches, from musical delights to dance performances, from mesmerising visual art to handmade crafts; the festival is a compelling delight for every art connoisseur.

About Kala Godha Association

The association's primary aim has to been to preserve and conserve the art in all forms, and it has been directing all its efforts towards this task. It has prioritised this aim since 1999 by organising this art festival on a yearly basis. Their vision has been multicultural awareness especially among those who have little access and exposure.

A festival like no other, the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival is one of those experiences you just cannot miss. Come and immerse yourself in a nine-day extravaganza of art, music, culture, ideas and people.