Carnival vibes on a Sunday
Join the Sunday meet-up in Bowenpally to play hopscotch, try zumba and watch street plays. This carnival brings neighbours and visitors together as a community
On the fourth Sunday of every month, a gentle commotion starts building up by 5pm at the quiet, new Bowenpally neighbourhood in Hyderabad.
A group of people across the age divide, gather to play traditional thokkudu billa (hopscotch). Peals of laughter ll the air as players try to hop on squares drawn on the oor. While the game brings back nostalgic memories for adults, it helps children discover a recreational outdoor sport that has vanished in the urban milieu. Over the next two hours, the gathering listens to live music, participates in a Zumba session and watches nukkad natak, a street play.
Cultural pride
Welcome to Mee Adivaram (Your Sunday), an initiative launched in March 2023 by city-based NRB (Nation’s Rock Beat), an organisation that seeks to engage communities with music, dance and arts in a public space.
Shriya Gupta, now a corporate employee, launched NRB as a Facebook page while pursuing an Automobile Engineering course, in 2015. The idea was simple, says Shriya, “Many youngsters in India do not have the privilege or liberty to pursue arts as a career. I wanted to create a platform where they could focus on their profession on weekdays and be part of a space that enables them to be creative on weekends.”
Lively events
NRB's activities in performing arts began with a music show at Second Cup in Sainikpuri in 2016; members could pursue their passion and monetise it. More than 100 members participated in around 700-weekend music, dance shows and live events in ve years.
While it was tough for NRB to run through the two years of the pandemic with virtual events, things did not get any better after it. “The real challenge was to see a change in the mindset of members, artists and performers,” recalls Shriya. The opportunities to do private music events, dance performances and workshops were immense but the quality suered.
Creative space
However, changes in terms of creating a close-knit team and new segments for artistes brought renewed energy. NRB now collaborates with other organisations to hold private gigs, corporate events, birthday parties and wedding choreography, handled now by its around 50-plus members.
The third oor of a house in Bowenpally transforms into a creative space where enthusiasts of dierent art communities meet, rehearse and have jam sessions. The terrace converts into a stage hosting outdoor events like bring your own blanket, art slam and a ea market. The people in the residential area are also supportive, says Shriya, who organises Mee Adivaram in dierent areas of this locality. “Whatever I am today is because of Bowenpally and this is my way of giving back to this place. Bowenpally is also one of the oldest occupied residencies of Secunderabad and retains an old-world charm. I want to make it a vibrant place, otherwise, no one even knows about it,” she says.
The recently completed Mural Project on the Old Airport Road is part of the Mee Adivaram initiative. With plans to hold artistic events on the stretch, Shriya says, “We plan to have a small carnival with food stalls and people can skate, cycle, dance or do anything that they like to and return home refreshed.”