Bengaluru’s Freedom Habba draws thousands to Vidhana Soudha

Thousands of people gathered at Vidhana Soudha on August 15 for Bengaluru's first Freedom Habba, a people's carnival organised by the Karnataka government. Families, students and office-goers filled the boulevard for cultural performances, a Constitution Wall, and Makkala Habba with art and waste-segregation activities. Around 18,000 had registered beforehand, the police said, and only QR-code holders aged 12 and above were allowed entry.

Entry required prior registration, with no on-the-spot access, organisers told The Federal. Bengaluru City Police closed Ambedkar Veedhi from 11 am and shut Vidhana Soudha metro station until 9:30 pm. Visitors entered through GPO, KR Circle, or Cubbon Park, and had to carry Aadhaar cards. Children under 12 could enter with a registered adult.

Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said the event aimed to make August 15 everyone's first festival and announced a 10-day Bengaluru Jatare planned for December. Visitors praised the initiative, with one sketching the building for the first time and others recalling freedom fighters from Karnataka's districts. The Times of India reported that the wish wall collected messages for a corruption-free India by 2047.