Asia’s largest multidisciplinary street arts festival, Kala Ghoda Arts Festival (KGAF), is set to return for its 24th edition, transforming the heart of Mumbai into a vibrant hub of arts, crafts, and creativity from January 20th to January 28th, 2024. Themed ‘Udaan’, this annual extravaganza, organised by the Kala Ghoda Association, promises to be a grand celebration of diverse artistic expressions and cultural heritage. Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2024 will also be part of the much-anticipated Mumbai Festival 2024 – a cultural initiative by the Government of Maharashtra.
The name Kala Ghoda can be traced to the old equestrian statue of King Edward VII, which was placed at the centre of the large node on the old Esplanade Road. The statue, a vestige of the colonial era, has since been removed from the site, but the colloquially used for the district name persist regardless – an assertive confirmation of a compelling public memory.
Today, the area is a hub of cultural activity and a throbbing urban node with institutions like the Jehangir Art Gallery, Max Mueller Bhavan, Bombay University, Prince of Wales Museum, National Gallery of Modern Art, Institute of Science, Bombay Natural History Society, Elphinstone College, and David Sassoon Library around it, all within comfortable walking distance of each other. Apart from the entertaining pursuits of art and education, the area also offers a host of famous city restaurants and cafes, along with art galleries, designer boutiques, and many culturerelated activities and venues – the most popular one being the annual Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, where many artistes, performers and craftspersons gather every February.
Kala Ghoda Association was formed with the idea of giving back to the city we call home - giving life to the biggest street art festival that India has - the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival. It is the country’s largest multicultural festival, taking place in February each year. The Festival draws visitors in large numbers, not just from the city but from all over the country, and the world.