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Art and Culture of Bhopal

The city of Bhopal is known for its exquisite culture and tradition. The picturesque location of the city makes it most admired place in Madhya Pradesh and India. Equally stunning is its rich Art and Culture which are blend of the Hindu and Muslim styles.The glaring example of its Art and Culture are famous mosques and havelis of the bygone era. 

The city portrays an unusual amalgamation of Hindu and Muslim art styles. Encircled by a stonework wall, the city set on the northern cache of a large lake with a link unraveling it from the lower lake. The city is largely populated by Hindus and Muslims. Though there are sizable number of Christians, Sikhs and Jains. All the community lives peaceful and population who bequeath immense significance to their elite Bhopali traditions and their sophisticated characteristics.

Culture of Bhopal

Traditional Culture in Bhopal

Lifestyle, food, traditions and living standards depict the culture and tradition that has been passed down since generations. People speak Hindi, Urdu and English languages and so do some of them speak local dialects. 

As this city offers many options for entertainment and interactions from spending quality times in the parks and on the banks of lakes. Regardless of its jam-packed business centre, the city is an eye-catching place to holiday. There are various accepted and spoken languages in the city, but the most extensively spoken language is Hindi. However Urdu, Gujarati, Marathi and Sindhi are also widespread.

Cuisines of Bhopal

Bhopal Cuisine inculcates several yummy vegetarian dishes with a assortment of zesty dishes. All categories of food’s and restaurants one can find in the city. People enjoy preparing Bhopali dishes during the special occasions. 

As food in Bhopal is mild, less spicy and unique in taste they seek attention of visitors as much as they are liked by the locals. Some famous non-vegetarian dishes like Bhopali Murgh Rezala, Paneer Rezala, Bhopali Gosht Korma, Murgh Hara Masala Rice and Murgh Nizami amongst others are amazing food varieties to enjoy in Bhopal city.

Folk Songs and Dances in Bhopal

Bharat Bhavan is a place where different types of cultural activities including folk songs and dance programs are organized on regular intervals. From time to time cultural festivals and shows are hosted in this part of Madhya Pradesh. Of course other modern form of dances is equally popular in the urban establishments especially in Bhopal and nearby regions. 

All forms of dance and music coexist in the capital that can be seen for creating harmony in the region. When it comes to dividing music and songs in Madhya Pradesh they can be broadly divided into the following—Tribal, Countryside and Bhakti Cult music forms.

All three forms are witnessed in Bhopal and nearby regions where they are thoroughly promoted. State’s tribal music maintains its identity of richest of the all while countryside music project legendary narratives but Bhakti Cult music is mainly numerous forms of bhajans, lyrics and devotional songs. Regular programs organized in Bhopal reflect all these forms.

Cultural Extravaganza in Bhopal

Art festivals in Bhopal

National Drama Festival : National drama festival is one of the renowned festivals celebrated for seven days in September drawing lots of poets, artists and dramatists to the city of lakes. Eminent actors amuse with an assortment of play and drama acts perform shows on this festival. In this carnival diverse artistic, folk dances, songs and dramas are carried out by the troupes.

Lokrang : On the event of republic day the people of the city celebrate a customary festival lokrang. This festival is rejoiced for five days with the tribal and folk programs, artistic activities and performing arts.

Dhrupad Samaroh : It is one of the most important festivals. Dhrupad Samaroh is celebrated with immense amusement and fervor. Many people get nearer to take pleasure in the exceptional singing and music performances by the prominent artists. World wide adorers come to rejoice the celebration of traditional music and songs.

Bharat Bhavan Summer Festival : Bharat Bhawan Summer Festival has sky-scraping acknowledgment and recognition in city which is celebrated with immense interest and dedication. The summer festival is prearranged every year at Bharat Bhawan where assorted drama troupes, poem concerts, traditional performances, customary music and songs, folk dance and exhibition of art paintings are displayed.

Bharat Bhavan in Bhopal

The autonomous body in Madhya Pradesh state capital city Bhopal namely Bharat Bhavan is a famous place meant for multiple arts and cultural activities. This multi-arts complex and museum has become a center of attraction ever since it was inaugurated in 1982 on the area that faced Upper Lakein the city. Its establishment is indeed one of the major achievements of Madhya Pradesh government to help promote all sorts of arts and cultural activities. 

It houses a huge art gallery where collection of numerous rare fine arts collections can be seen. Workshops are held here on regular intervals and so is notable its open-air amphitheatre besides studio theatre and an auditorium to seek the attention of visitors.  Bharat Bhavan also houses a museum of tribal and folk art besides libraries of Indian poetry, classical music and various other forms of folk music to guide the researchers get benefitted from here. 

It had been inaugurated in the year 1980 with an aim to promote Indian art in this region. This complex is a famous landmark n the city whose art gallery of Indian painting and sculpture, seeks attention of many visitors. It has been hosting many programs to promote artists and writers since last few decades to bring cultural resurgence in Madhya Pradesh state.

Address: Lake View Road, Shymala Hills, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh 462002
Construction started: 1980
Founded: February 13, 1982
Architect: Charles Correa

Ravindra Bhavan in Bhopal

Famous for creating cultural renaissance in Madhya Pradesh state capital Bhopal city, Ravindra Bhavan is an illustrious landmark. State’s cultural activities are organized from state’s Department of Culturethat monitors all such activities from this important place in the city. 

It aims to promote numerous activities in the state which include cultural and literary promotions besides organizing programs to spread message of Hindi language for its thorough promotion. Besides organizing cultural and social activities, Ravindra Bhawan also supports other related performing arts activities. This auditorium is equipped with modern resources for best possible arrangement of cultural programs held in the Bhopal city to represent each part of the state. 

It has the capacity to accommodate 700+ spectators at one go.  Other facilities which turn Ravindra Bhawan one of the best auditorium complex is that it houses a finest open-air stage meant for holding exhibitions; a key center to organize all sorts of cultural performances that relateto art, culture, literature and cinemaand to promote them in this region. Rest crucial activities include programs to conserve the cultural traditionsof this region. It also facilitates financial assistance and pension to the needy artists and literary geniuses who require all possible supports.

Address: Professors Colony, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh 462002

Art and Craft of Bhopal

Bhopal adorns arts and crafts as other forms of cultural exuberant that increases the festivities in the region manifold. The art and crafts of this region indeed portray its rich traditions and culture. It is worth noting that handicrafts works portray painstaking craftsmanship and hereditary skills of trained professionals. 

Some of the notable artistic pieces of crafts here are woven cotton and silk sarees, fabrics with block prints, stuffed toys, floor coverings, bamboo works, cane work, jute work, woodcraft, iron craft, stone craft, metal craft, terracotta, zari work, folk paintings, ornaments, dolls and papier mache amongst others.

Festivals in Bhopal

People of mixed cultures, traditions and religions coexist in the city of Bhopal to showcase their religious harmony and affinities. Out of the many festivals celebrated in Bhopal, Diwali and Eid remain major ones in which people show their active participation. Most notable features during those occasions are that people exchange gifts and sweets to strengthen their relationships.

Bhopal Culture

Muslims celebrate Eid with ample joviality after the compassionate fasting month of Ramadhan. It is an occasion when they meet with each other and greet them as well. People visit each other’s homes to eat sweets and sewaiya and also exchange gifts. This celebration in Bhopal is universal hence one finds it thoroughly coulorful as it is celebrated beyond Muslim community now. Ijtima is the well-liked religious festivals of Muslims notable in Bhopal for three days. 

Muslim as well as non Muslim pilgrims get nearer from all parts of India in the city. Likewise, Diwali is another notable festival in Bhopal when whole city lit up due to it being the festival of lights and Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped. Other festivals that seek equal attention are Ganesh Puja, Durga Puja (Navratras) and et al.

Costumes in Bhopal

Bhopal has already emerged into one of the modern cities in the country with its global identity. With such popularity this city has adopted the modern trends and traditions with fast paced developments. Inhabitants of this city therefore enjoy wearing mixed clothing which describes their religious, social and many other identities of living standard and lifestyles and at the same juncture portray their harmonious living sense. 

Men wearing kurta-payajama, dhotis, pant-shirts are common while women wear traditional sarees, salwar-suits and of course with the emergence of modern trends jeans and tee are common amongst them. In total it is well understood that Bhopal’s lifestyle and dressing sense define the dressing sense of people from the central India.

Literature in Bhopal

Bhopal remains into limelight due to extensive contribution of this city’s inhabitants in literature since several centuries. Many famous literati from this city attained national and international popularity with their wonderful works of literature in Hindi, Urdu and English languages. Makhanlal Chaturvedi; Nathuram Premi; Ramkumar Verma; Gajanan Madhav Muktibodh; Harishankar Parsai; Sharad Joshi; Rajneesh; Bihari Lal; Rahat Indori; Kaif Bhopali; Uday Prakash; Seth Govind Das; Hari Krishna Devsare; Nida Fazli; Anupam Mishra; Balachandra Shastri; Bhagwat Rawat; Vidya Shah; Vagish Shastri; Khurram Murad and Bhagwan Datt Sharma amongst others are few eminent literati from Bhopal who have attained ample popularity.

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