Maya Bazaar, Bengaluru’s annual celebration of range and acceptance is again with its fifth version, and is taking it a notch greater by together with individuals with disabilities (PwD) and the Dalit, Bahujan, and Adivasi (DBA) communities this yr.
“Since we discuss the language of the marginalised, the Bazaar has organically drawn within the intersectionalities of various identities. There are actually folks with disabilities, Dalit, Bahujan, Adivasi, and others from totally different communities ,” says co-founder Veena Kulkarni, elaborating on how they’ve moved from the LGBTQ+ tag to, “Delight Meets Goal from all marginalised communities to the world.”
Founders Sanam Dembla and Veena Kulkarni say this fifth version is a particular one for them. “We began off on a lark, desirous to contribute to the economic system in a enjoyable approach and get our manufacturers on the market. Again then, we didn’t suppose we might change into this massive,” says Veena, admitting, the journey has been a difficult one. “We put on our politics on our sleeve, so it has not been the simplest factor to attain.”
“The concept for Maya Bazaar began on a cricket floor, the place a few us from the LGBTQ group who had been sitting round got here up with the thought for an area the place we could possibly be ourselves, do enterprise and have some enjoyable round round it,” says Sanam Dembla.
Veena Kulkarni (left) and Sanam Dembla
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Particular Association
“There’s plenty of creativity throughout the group and there was a necessity for a platform to showcase it,” she provides.
Sanam drew on her experiences within the occasions background and the duo settled on Goa because the venue for his or her first present in 2020 . “This was quickly after the preliminary lockdown and many individuals had been working from vacation locations. The response was nice — we had about 40 entrepreneurs from everywhere in the nation and round 700 guests in two days.”
For each Sanam and Veena, the unabashed and surprising acceptance they acquired from each millennials and senior residents, clinched the deal for them.
“We felt we had been heading in the right direction, and realised we had a lot extra to supply. The Bazaar had the potential to maintain an economic system by itself, so we started pushing entrepreneurship as properly,” says Sanam.
The selection for his or her second version was Shimla because it was a vacation vacation spot too. “Nonetheless, it was fairly homophobic there and we actually pushed boundaries,” she says, including that although they had been welcomed by authorities officers, they didn’t get too many guests. “I feel the entire idea was very new to them,” she says.
From earlier editions of Maya Bazaar
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Particular Association
“Once we lastly had our third version in Bangalore, the response was 4 instances greater with 120 stalls and artistes coming down from Mumbai, Delhi and Goa. We registered about 4,000 guests,” Sanam says.
“Now, for our upcoming fifth version, we’ve got 150 shops of whom 30-40% are repeat entrepreneurs. We have now begun to think about the opportunity of holding the Bazaar twice a yr,” says Veena.
This version of the Bazaar will host India’s largest queer musical on stage. “It’s titled The Baaja Firm and has been directed by Mujeeb Pasha. This small house manufacturing is a enjoyable, 40-minute piece about queer lives and is loosely based mostly on Ismat Chugtai’s e book Lihaaf,” says Veena, whose most popular pronouns are they/them.
“Delight Meets Goal from all marginalised communities to the world — that’s what is particular this yr. We hope for extra illustration and plenty of studying as properly. There’s rather a lot to soak up at an occasion like this,” they add.
Sanam provides that ideas akin to gender-neutral washrooms may be an eye fixed opener. “We attempt to incorporate small adjustments so when folks come right here, they perceive the distinction and study on their very own.”
From earlier editions of Maya Bazaar
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association
“All of us come from our personal areas of problem. Throughout these two days, we will go away them apart, have a very good time and never apologise for being ourselves,” provides Veena, “And yearly, we too learn to make this area extra protected for folks to be who they’re with none concern.”
One of many highlights of this yr is the walkthrough by dad and mom on the Bazaar. “This yr, there shall be a gap at 4 pm by the dad and mom of queer of us who’re going to stroll the delight with us and announce the present open,” says Sanam.
Veena provides, “It’s a symbolic opening because the bazaar opens at 11. Yearly, somebody from the trans group or queer veterans stroll by the bazaar with the delight flag. Folks take part with music and dancing, with the procession coming to a halt on the stage.”
“This yr, it is going to be the dad and mom of not solely queer folks, but in addition everybody from our staff, volunteers and stall homeowners. Quite a lot of dad and mom go to the Bazaar; this time, we’re inviting them to guide the delight and be our company of honor.”
Maya Bazaar has all the time been a pet-friendly occasion and the stalls this yr will supply a various vary of clothes, equipment, house décor and different merchandise, in addition to workshops, actions and performances, by queer, girls, and ally-owned companies.
Bengaluru band Purple Mints and The Pink Divas, a queer dance group from the town, may also carry out at this version of Maya Bazaar.
Maya Bazaar shall be held at Jayamahal Palace Resort Grounds on September 28 and 29, from 10am-10pm. Tickets on allevents.in. Go browsing to www.mayabazaar.co.in for extra particulars.
Printed – September 26, 2024 02:36 pm IST
