About

Devasthanam/ Dharmasthala/ temples have been large players in the ecosystem of our society, be it environmental, financial, material, educational, health or cultural. Gudiya Sambhrama is a step towards rejuvenating and reviving this temple ecosystem.

The festival brings artists and scholars of repute from across India to heritage temples to share their knowledge and performances of Hari Katha, dance, music, theatre, puppetry, fabulous legends and more creating health and well-being, touching the lives of a cross section of society.

Over the last two decades economic development and globalisation have resulted in apparent progress and increased opportunity, but have also brought some problems in its wake like the loss of history, culture, ecology, roots, traditional arts, folk arts and language. After much deliberation it was decided to have a celebration in honour of our cultural and natural heritage.

Heritage takes care to select themes that bridge the disconnect that man has with Natural Heritage today. The endless list of environmental disasters is a direct result of this disconnect and irreverence.

People of this culture relate simultaneously to the Supreme Godhead whether in sacred spaces within the temples, in the Yaaga Shalas, in the elements, in trees, animals, rivers, mountains, in all of nature, nay in all creation and without any confusion. The approach in the Indian ethos is one that is holistic and all-encompassing.

The venues for the festival are Sacred Heritage spaces. Temples are a creation of our open culture that recognises and understands the diversity of people’s approach to the Supreme and the understanding of the Divinity of all creation.

It has been found that one of the best paths to sensitising people to country, culture and community is through the performing arts especially the traditional classical arts where the content is spiritual and peace giving. Performing arts, architecture, visual arts, literature, poetry, knowledge dissemination, environment and ecology were all a part of this temple culture.

Bengaluru is home to beautiful temples some as old as 1200 years and Gudiya Sambhrama is an earnest attempt to revive this multifaceted culture in temples today. The resource person for any Heritage activity comes from the best of scholars, artists, academicians, naturalists and others.

Much research and work goes into creating thematic posters for display at the venues. Trees and plants are decorated and displayed with information boards.

Objectives:

• To revive traditional performing arts in the temple precincts
• To disseminate knowledge from our vedic texts and Mahakavyas like Ramayana and Mahabharatha, Bhagavatha, Bhagavad Gita and many more.
• To create a forum that will give easy access to art forms for the common man
• To disseminate knowledge of the significance of cultural symbolism and practices.
• To choose a different theme every year related to Mother Nature which carries the pivotal message of the festival “Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah”
• To conduct many more temple festivals across the state
• To bring understanding of the relation between man and environment through well thought out themes.