Bengaluru to Host Himachali Sangam for 3,000-Strong Community Gathering

Bengaluru will host a major gathering of Himachali culture, traditions and community spirit on 25 October, with about 3 thousand Himachalis expected to come together under one roof for the Himachali Sangam. The event is being organised in Karnataka’s capital by the Himachali in Bengaluru organisation under the theme “Ek Din Himachal Ke Naam”, or One Day in the Name of Himachal.

The gathering will bring together Himachalis living in Bengaluru after moving there from different parts of the country for employment and other work. Although the programme will be held in Karnataka, the organisers said the atmosphere will be completely coloured in the traditions and cultural spirit of Himachal Pradesh.

The event will feature Himachali dham, traditional food, hill music and opportunities for community members to meet and interact with one another. Through the programme, the organisers are seeking to provide Himachalis living in Bengaluru an opportunity to reconnect with their native land, culture and traditions.

The gathering is also expected to bring together people who belong to different districts and regions of Himachal Pradesh. By meeting one another, they will be able to share a sense of familiarity and belonging while living away from the state. The organisers described the event as an opportunity to bring the Himachali community together through shared participation and mutual bonding amid the pressures of a busy life.

Himachali dham will be one of the main attractions of the Himachali Sangam. Boti cooks will travel specially from Himachal Pradesh to Bengaluru for the event and prepare the traditional dham. Himachali dham is an important part of the state’s rich food culture and hospitality tradition.

For people living thousands of kilometres away from Himachal Pradesh in southern India, the taste of the traditional meal is expected to remind them of their homes and villages. The preparation and serving of dham will also give the gathering a distinctly Himachali character, the organisers said.

The programme will also include performances by well-known Himachali singer AC Bhardwaj. He will create a musical atmosphere with his performances, and his Himachali songs are expected to add to the appeal of the event. Through hill music, the organisers will provide a platform for the folk culture and traditions of Himachal Pradesh.

The members of Himachali in Bengaluru, Mandeep Singh, Sunny Sharma, Dinesh Rana, Deepak, Vinit Bhardwaj, Ashish Kalia, Ashwani Sharma and Anurag, provided information about the programme. They said the event would showcase Himachal’s traditional cuisine, music and cultural identity in Bengaluru.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has also been invited to attend the programme as the chief guest. There is a possibility that the Chief Minister may travel to Bengaluru for the event. However, his presence has not been officially confirmed.

The Himachali in Bengaluru organisation has been working for Himachalis living in Karnataka for several years. Its members help Himachalis in need through mutual support and collective efforts. The organisation’s office-bearers had also reached Himachal Pradesh during the disaster that hit the state last year and contributed to relief work for affected people.

According to the organisation’s members, the Karnataka government has also honoured the organisation. The Himachali Sangam on 25 October will therefore serve as a platform where Himachalis living in Bengaluru can come together, experience the traditions of their home state and keep their cultural connection alive.