Bengaluru: For a day, the steady stream of vehicles that usually passes through Vidhana Soudha gave way to something far rarer — people. And thousands of them. Families, children, students, office-goers, senior citizens and visitors from different corners of the city took over the grand boulevard outside Karnataka’s seat of power, transforming it into a vibrant public square filled with laughter, music, colour and conversations.At Freedom Habba, Bengaluru did not merely celebrate Independence Day; it celebrated itself. From toddlers to curious children tugging their parents towards activity zones, the venue buzzed with energy from morning till evening.While children explored Makkala Habba, many others queued up to experience Freedom Walk, a journey through stories of Karnataka’s contribution to the freedom movement. The Constitution Wall drew crowds eager to trace the evolution of the nation’s founding document.Elsewhere, the mood was unhurried. Some sat on the lawns soaking in the beauty of Vidhana Soudha; a few sketched the imposing structure and Mahatma Gandhi’s statue, while countless others posed for photographs against the iconic backdrop.One of the biggest attractions was the cultural parade and performances staged on the road in front of Vidhana Soudha. The stretch that normally echoes with honking traffic came alive with drums, folk music and dancers representing diverse traditions from across Karnataka and India.Makkala Habba turned learning into play, with kids trying their hand at painting, clay work, flower-making and other DIY activities. A session on waste segregation got them thinking about the four different types of bins and what goes where.Another attraction was the wish wall, where visitors could write what they wanted India to look like in 2047. Among the messages were wishes for a corruption-free country and a better future.Beyond the performances and attractions, the habba brought together Kannadigas and non-Kannadigas, long-time Bengalureans and newcomers, creating a shared space to celebrate freedom and belonging. As dusk settled over the illuminated dome and the crowds slowly dispersed, Freedom Habba left behind more than photographs and performances. It offered a glimpse of what public spaces can become when they are handed back to the people — open, welcoming and shared.‘LET US STAY UNITED’Aug 15 must become everyone’s first festival. That’s the main intention of Freedom Habba, and that’s why we chose Vidhana Soudha as the venue. Bengaluru is a beautiful city where people from every culture, community and part of India come together. One nation, many cultures, but one city — Namma Bengaluru. Freedom Habba sends a message that after the British, nobody should be allowed to divide us again on any grounds. We are also planning a 10-day festival called Bengaluru Jatare in Dec: Krishna Byre Gowda, Bengaluru development minister.VISITORS SPEAKRoopa M & Reeyansh N | from RajajinagarI came here with family and my son had a great time at Makkala Habba, where multiple art and craft activities were planned. There are also several activities related to Independence struggle, including Karnataka’s role and its history. This is our first time here, and it’s really good. Usually, we only see Independence Day celebrated with flag hoisting, but this is a different experienceAnitha Sampath | engineer, JayanagarI usually love art and sketching. I have passed by the road near Vidhana Soudha many times, but never stepped inside. We never know when we’ll get another opportunity like this. I was very happy to see a drawing activity had been planned. So I thought I shouldn’t miss this opportunity to sketch the building, and I truly loved itSrimathi Nayak, Vikram Nayak & Antara Nayak | from HennurI’ve been living in the city for the past 24 years but have never been inside Vidhana Soudha. I was excited and curious to see what the assembly halls, speaker’s room and other rooms looked like. It’s good govt took this initiative. And since it’s Independence Day, we decided to dress up in the tricolourNagraj Nayak | lecturerI visited the Uttara Kannada stall and it brought back memories of my hometown. Watching artists portray freedom fighters from different districts of Karnataka gave me goosebumps. It felt like we were living through the freedom movement. Such demonstrations are much needed, especially for youngstersHarikesh Deshmukh | from BelagaviFreedom Walk took me from the present to those days of the freedom struggle. Kittur Chennamma and Sangolli Rayanna are two great freedom fighters from my hometown, and watching their life stories being portrayed was indeed mesmerising
