Past Forward– Proposal for Community & Heritage Collaboration with The Planetarium

1 Feb 2026

The Director,

Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium (BASE),

High Grounds, Bengaluru – 560001.

Dear Dr. Guruprasad,

Subject: Proposal for "Past Forward" – A Community & Heritage Collaboration with The Planetarium

I hope this letter finds you well. Thank you for the chat we had and  your interest in this space and on being a stronger part of the local community.

I am writing to you on behalf of Heritage Beku, a citizen’s initiative dedicated to preserving the unique historical and cultural character of our city. As you know, we are deeply invested in connecting the citizens of Bengaluru with their roots, not just to celebrate the past, but to anchor our future.

We have long admired the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium for its tremendous impact on children and students, sparking curiosity about the cosmos in young minds. However, we see a wonderful, untapped opportunity to widen this circle of wonder to the adult community and the local residents of our vibrant neighbourhood—including Palace Road, Millers Road, Vasant Nagar, and the Raj Bhavan area.

Our Proposal: A "Past Forward" Quarterly Program While the planetarium is a gateway to the future, the study of the skies is also one of our oldest shared heritages. We propose collaborating on a special quarterly evening program designed specifically for adults and the local community.

• The Theme: "Past Forward"—exploring how our understanding of the universe has shaped our history, culture, and future.

• The Format: A conducive, relaxed setting where adults can engage with astronomy, perhaps linking it to Indian heritage (like the Jantar Mantar legacy) or modern "Dark Sky" conservation, followed by a sky-watch.

• The Goal: To bridge the gap between "science for kids" and "lifelong wonder for adults," making the Planetarium a community anchor for all ages.

Community Integration We believe the Planetarium can be the beating heart of the Central Bangalore community. By engaging with local residents, schools, and colleges in a more direct, informal capacity, we can embed the institution as a caring, responsible, and integral part of our daily lives.

Formalizing the Partnership To take this forward, we would be delighted to sign an informal Letter of Understanding (LoU) or Collaboration with you. This would allow us to co-curate activities, drive community engagement, and bring a new demographic of enthusiastic citizens to your doorstep.

We are certain that this initiative will build on your existing success and position the Planetarium as a dynamic space where Heritage meets Science. We look forward to discussing this with you at the earliest.

Warm regards,

Priya Chetty Rajagopal 

Founder, Heritage Beku

---

Research: Global Best Practices & Similar Initiatives

To support our discussion , here are examples of how planetariums and heritage organisations worldwide are collaborating to engage adult audiences:

1. "Archaeoastronomy" & Heritage Walk

• Concept: connecting ancient sites with astronomical significance.

• Relevance: India has a rich history of astronomy (e.g., Jantar Mantar). A session on “How Bengaluru’s ancestors saw the sky” or “Indian Astronomy Heritage” would perfectly blend the missions of Heritage Beku and the Planetarium.

2. The "Museum Late" or "Star Party" Model

• Global Practice: Institutions like the Griffith Observatory (Los Angeles) and Science Museum (London) host "Lates"—adult-only evenings with talks, music, and telescope viewings.

• Local Adaptation: A quarterly "Star Party" at JNP for the Vasant Nagar/Millers Road community would foster a sense of ownership and neighbourliness.

3. "Dark Sky" Heritage Conservation

• Trend: The International Dark-Sky Association works to protect the night sky as a shared heritage.

• Idea: Heritage Beku could champion a "Dark Sky" awareness campaign in the Central Business District (CBD) to reduce light pollution, with the Planetarium as the technical expert. This positions the sky itself as a "heritage structure" worth saving.

4. Citizen Science Projects

• Example: Galaxy Zoo allows citizens to help classify galaxies.

• Idea: Launch a "Bengaluru Sky Watch" where locals contribute data on star visibility, blending community effort with scientific observation.

Heritage Beku unveils Limited Edition 2026 Calendar with Rumale Art House

HERITAGE BEKU UNVEILS LIMITED EDITION 2026 CALENDAR, CELEBRATING BANGALORE’S BLOOMS THROUGH THE ART OF RUMALE

Bangalore, December 2025 – Heritage Beku, the citizen-led movement championing the city's unique culture, today announced the launch of its warmly anticipated 2026 calendar. This year’s edition is a landmark artistic collaboration, featuring twelve stunning, never-before-published paintings of Bangalore’s iconic flowering trees by the renowned Kannada painter laureate, Shri Rumale.

Titled “Hoovu Habba: A Year in Bloom,” the calendar transforms Shri Rumale’s exquisite botanical art into a free, limited-edition public resource. It serves as a constant, beautiful reminder of the city’s natural heritage, directly embodying the spirit of Heritage Beku’s Hoovu Habba initiative—Bangalore’s answer to the global tradition of celebrating seasonal blossoms.

“This calendar is more than a timekeeper; it’s a manifesto of beauty and a call to preservation,” said a spokesperson for Heritage Beku. “Shri Rumale’s paintings do not just depict trees; they capture the soul of our city’s avenues—the nostalgia of pink Tabebuia showers, the vibrant hope in Gulmohar flames, and the quiet dignity of flowering Jacaranda. Through this collaboration with the Rumale Trust, we are placing a piece of living heritage on every desk.”

The 2026 calendar is a direct outcome of a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Rumale Art House. It marks a significant milestone for Heritage Beku, weaving together art, botany, and civic memory into a single, impactful artifact. The calendar will be distributed free of charge, continuing Heritage Beku’s tradition of creating sought-after collectibles that foster city pride.

About Heritage Beku & Hoovu Habba:Heritage Beku is a citizen initiative dedicated to documenting, celebrating, and advocating for the preservation of Bangalore’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage. ‘Hoovu Habba’ (Festival of Flowers) is its flagship campaign to institutionalize the celebration of the city’s unique, year-round serial blossoming of avenue trees—a 100-year-old botanical legacy planned by horticulturists like Gustav Krumbiegel.

Launch Event Details:

• Date: First Weekend of January 2026

• Venue: Virtual: To be announced on Heritage Beku’s social media channels.

• Availability: Limited edition.

---

ANNEXURE:

The Global Context & City Impact of ‘Hoovu Habba’

This annexure provides the researched background on the global tradition of blossom festivals and the specific, transformative potential of the Hoovu Habba initiative for Bangalore.

1. Global Precedents: How Cities Celebrate Blossoms

The act of celebrating seasonal blooms is a powerful urban tradition across the world, driving tourism, community cohesion, and environmental awareness.

• Japan’s Hanami: The quintessential model. The cherry blossom (Sakura) season is a profound national cultural event, rooted in centuries of history. It generates billions in tourism revenue, inspires art and merchandise, and is a core part of Japanese cultural identity. It symbolizes both beauty and transience (mono no aware).

• Washington D.C.’s National Cherry Blossom Festival: A direct cultural import that has become a defining civic event. What began with a gift of 3,000 trees from Japan in 1912 now attracts over 1.5 million visitors annually, featuring a parade, cultural performances, and a major economic impact estimated at over $150 million each year.

• Sikkim’s Cherry Blossom Festival: A successful Indian example that has put Sikkim on the global tourism map. It combines natural beauty with local music, food, and adventure sports, showcasing how regional flora can be leveraged for sustainable tourism and brand identity.

Key Takeaway: These festivals transcend mere “flower viewing.” They are strategically curated cultural-economic platforms that build city brand equity, foster local pride, and create recurring economic value.

2. Bangalore’s Unique Heritage: The ‘Garden City’s’ Botanical Symphony

Hoovu Habba is not inventing a tradition but institutionalizing a forgotten one. As noted in Heritage Beku’s campaign, Bangalore’s “serial blossoming” was a deliberate, scientific design by horticulturist Gustav Herman Krumbiegel and later S.G. Neginhal. They curated tree avenues (Tabebuia, Gulmohar, Jacaranda, etc.) to ensure year-round color—a living, breathing public art project.

This makes Bangalore’s heritage distinct:

• It’s Year-Round: Unlike a single-species, two-week bloom, Bangalore offers a rotating palette.

• It’s Architectural: The blooms are integrated into the city’s street fabric, not just parks.

• It’s Tangible Heritage: These mature tree avenues are as much a part of the city’s heritage as its colonial buildings or temples.

3. The Strategic Impact of Hoovu Habba & This Calendar

The 2026 Rumale calendar is a critical first step in a larger strategic framework, as outlined in Heritage Beku’s vision. Its impact is multidimensional:

• Cultural & Educational Impact: The calendar, paired with proposed art camps, poetry readings, and school curricula, moves blooms from background to focus. It creates a shared visual language and narrative for the city’s natural heritage, much like Japanese woodblock prints did for Sakura.

• Tourism & Economic Impact: By mapping blooms (e.g., “Tabebuia Trails in Lalbagh,” “Jacaranda Canopies of Jayamahal”), Hoovu Habba can disperse tourism across seasons and neighborhoods. This supports local businesses, guides, and hospitality, mirroring the economic model of Washington D.C. or Sikkim.

• Preservation & Environmental Impact: Celebration is the first step toward preservation. A public that values the pink Tabebuia as a cultural icon will actively oppose its felling for a road widening. Initiatives like “Tree Champions,” “Adoption,” and digital mapping create direct citizen stewardship, safeguarding this green legacy against urban pressure.

• Artistic & Archival Impact: The collaboration with Rumale sets a powerful precedent. It elevates botanical art as a serious genre tied to civic identity and creates a priceless archival record. Future ideas like a coffee table book or a digital “Bloom Map” would further this mission.

Conclusion: An Optimistic, Forward-Looking Heritage

Hoovu Habba, catalyzed by artifacts like the Rumale calendar, redefines heritage not as a static look backward, but as a living, breathing, and colorful practice. It connects Bangalore to a global family of cities that find strength in their natural beauty while forging a unique, optimistic identity for India’s garden city. This calendar is the seed from which a richer, more colorful, and more conscious city can grow.

Karaga Kunte Neglected at Cubbon Park

We do need to do something about it soon. We hope Dept of Horticulture takes this up asap. The article by Y Maheshwar Reddy In Bangalore Mirror 11 Feb.

Kargada Kunte is historically important spot in Cubbon Park, but just 4 years after it was developed by BSCL, it lies in ruins today

The pathetic condition of the Kargada Kunte, a historic pond in Cubbon Park, reveals that the authorities do not care about the quality of developmental works. The Bengaluru Smart City Limited (BSCL) had taken up development of Karagada Kunte in 2021. The historical pond was also developed by the Department of Horticulture and Public Works Department in 2012.

Many people who visit Cubbon Park said the pond now looks like an abandoned waterbody in a remote rural area. Granite steps on the western side of the lake are in dilapidated condition and most of them have collapsed.

Cubbon Park Walkers’ Association president S Umesh blamed the horticulture departmentofficials for this situation. “They just make money but are not bothered about Cubbon Park. I have already complained to them about the pathetic condition of Karagada Kunte. I demand the authorities reconstruct the marble steps without any delay,” Umesh said.

Suresh Jayaram, an author of Bangalore’s Lalbagh: A Chronicle of the Garden and the City, suggested that the authorities implement sustainable measures to ensure there is water in the pond.

“Karagada Kunte is a historical place. Author-ities must take suitable measures to retain and save this historical place,” said Jayaram. Urban strategist Vinod Jacob said that heritage buildings and gazebos constructed by the British remain fully operational at the park today, a stark reminder of our current lack of due diligence in quality control and vendor selection. “For public works in a heritage park, we must prioritise top quality materials and workmanship,” he said.

Priya-Chetty Rajagopal from Heritage Beku said that Karagada Kunte has historical significance. “The horticulture department officials must look into the matter and fix the problems,” she said.

Another shocking sight is the unutilised concrete benches installed near the Karagada Kunte. A locked gate prevents visitors from using the benches that were installed by BSCL. Horticulture Department Deputy Director (Cubbon Park) Kusuma said Karagada Kunte assured BM of prompt action. “I will take measures to reconstruct the marble steps of Karagada Kunte. All the problems will be fixed in a month,” said the Deputy Director. The Thigala community has been celebrating the Karaga festival along the Karagada Kunte in Cubbon Park in April every year. During the festival, the pond is illuminated with colourful lamps.

Will the authorities concerned fix the problem much before the Karaga festival? We wait and watch.

Article Link : https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/history-neglected/articleshow/128181629.cms