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.

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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

The Week That Was, at BLR Hubba!

This year, Heritage Beku came back in full swing for the 2026 edition of BLR Hubba, the city-wide festival which takes place from 16th to 25th January. Having over 300 events spanning various venues around the city, it is a celebration of the city and its heritage, while also channelling community engagement and collective appreciation for everything this city has to offer. Our contribution to this celebration was a series of walks in various venues around the city, and a collaboration with Heritage Beku’s Revival Series at Cubbon Park Bandstand. It was a whirlwind 10 days filled with positive interactions, enlightening conversations, and enthusiasm for the future!

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Cubbon Blossoms Walk

On theme with this year’s Heritage Beku calendar based on the works of Rumale Chennabasavaiah, the prolific artist often dubbed as the “Van Gogh of Karnataka” due to the  uncanny similarities in painting technique, The Cubbon Blossoms Walk with art historian Dr Pramila Lochan and Ms Shabala Devi was held on 16th January 2025. It was a technicolour morning, with the walkers keenly listening to the history and legacy of Rumale Chennabasavaiah. For that morning, we stepped into his shoes and traced his path around Cubbon park, placing his physical paintings where he had once sat and worked his magic. We saw the Gulmohars he painted, the statue of King Edward that he had brought to life with pink and blue hues, and reminisced the erstwhile bamboo groove section of Cubbon park that Rumale was fond of. Guided by the memory of his personal philosophies and frugal life, it was a journey back in time with those who knew him best. The winter sun in Cubbon coupled by the fascinating stories by Dr Lochan and Ms Devi, the Blossoms Walk was indeed one for the books.

Left to Right: Ms Shabala Devi, Dr Pramila Lochan, Priya Chetty-Rajagopal

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The Lalbagh Unfolded Walk with Suresh Jayaram

The Lalbagh Unfolded Walk with Suresh Jayaram on 17th January 2025 began at the foot of the serene Lalbagh hill, one of the most well-known nature landmarks in Bangalore. We were very lucky to be led by the iconic Bangalorean Suresh Jayaram, the author of bestseller book ‘Bangalore's Lalbagh’—a chronicle and anecdotal narrative of the city and its oldest garden— the walkers were guided with a plethora of information and trivia on the formation of the city’s natural history, from the nomenclature of ‘Lalbagh’, named after Hyder Ali’s mother, to the links between nature and the industrial development of mining in Bangalore. There were deep insights on the globalisation of species of trees which was also taken up by experts such as Gustav Krumbiegel, the pioneer of urban planning in the city and of ‘serial blossoming’ in the city’s flora, and Mirza Ismail, the city’s biggest advocate for natural spaces and parks in urban places. The walkers were guided to roads lesser travelled in the garden: visiting the groves of the remaining tamarind and eucalyptus trees, the quarry at the periphery of Lalbagh, and paying homage to the 250-year-old White Silk Cotton Tree at the West Gate! The Lalbagh Walk was a holistic package of retrospection, discovery, and humility, bowing to wilderness at the heart of the city.

Pictured: Suresh Jayaram

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Bandstand: Samvada by Natya Institute of Kathak and Choreography (NIKC)

On January 18th, the Bandstand came alive with the rhythms and grace of the Natya Institute of Kathak & Choreography (NIKC). Established in rather unconventional times, the Institute lives and breathes dance, standing as a platform of remarkable stature and achievement. Deeply committed to protecting and nurturing the legacy of Indian culture, NIKC simultaneously pushes the boundaries of dance education and performance, while consciously inhabiting the public domain through movement. Their presentation was a vibrant collection of Kathak sequences that undertook a linguistic journey across Kannada, Awadhi, Hindi, and Sanskrit. Performed by the Bangalore-based, internationally travelled ensemble, each piece unfolded like a shifting mosaic, illuminating the many layers of the country’s cultural spirit. Original music, evocative costuming, and intricate choreography converged to create a shimmering visual landscape, performed by Ramya Nagaraj, Keerthi Kumar V, and Roopa K, under the guidance of the renowned choreographer Madhu Nataraj. The sequences included Ganeshaya Namaha, Kahe Rokat, Samvad – “Tell me, she said”, a poem by Sally Atkins, Udaravyragyavidu, and Jhinjhoti Tarana. Madhu Nataraj’s brief yet articulate introductions gently wove each segment into a seamless whole, while interactive interludes invited the audience to participate. One of the most joyful moments of the morning was when the audience was encouraged to clap along to different taalas, an invitation they accepted with great enthusiasm, turning the Bandstand into a shared rhythm of collective joy.

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Walk The West End: Guided Walk of Taj West End

The ‘Walk The West End: Guided Walk of Taj West End’ on 20th January 2025 has been a staple of Heritage Beku, spearheading this experience of Bangaloreans. Guided by Mohamed Musavir, head concierge of the prestigious hotel, it was an ode to the one of the oldest heritage places in Bangalore. From its beginning as the Bronson West End in 1887, its pivotal role in the film ‘Passage to India’ to its present day function, it was a portal across time and lived history. We were also graced by the presence of P K Mohankumar, who once served as the General Manager at the hotel. His insights on the shifts in architecture over the decades, and his service to renowned guests such as King Charles III, it was very special to hear the perspective of someone who has been in the room– or rather the hotel— where it happened. He also Other pivotal locations in the property such as the Muneshwara temple, the Chambers, the oldest post box Bangalore, and a volcanic rock that connects to the gneiss rock in Lalbagh, add richness to the hotel’s pedigree. Ending the walk with Taj’s signature high tea, the intimate experience of being guided around the property will be cherished for the days to come.

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Bandstand: Parisarada Hadugalu by M D Pallavi

January 24th witnessed the much-loved voice of the Kannada music scene, MD Pallavi, whose performance titled Parisaraḍa Hāḍugaḷu was a soulful ode to nature, poetry, and memory. Her bhavageethes, cherished across generations, found a perfect home in the early morning calm of Cubbon Park. She began with Bendre’s Mudala Maneya, a song that tenderly describes a serene morning where sunlight enters a home and gently fills it with warmth—an image that felt almost uncannily aligned with the soft 8 AM light filtering through the trees around the Bandstand. She went on to sing Mankuthimmana Kagga by D. V. Gundappa, followed by Nanna Shalmala, composed by the revered C. Ashwath, which captures the character of the Shalmala river flowing through Uttara Kannada. Jogin Jalapatha, written by J. P. Rajarathnam, beautifully portrayed the grandeur of Jog Falls in his signature Ratnana Padagalu style. At one point, Pallavi invited the audience to sing along, and the response was immediate and heartfelt. Requests poured in—Yede Tumbi Haadidenu, Deepavu Ninnade, Shravana Banthu, Yaava Mohana Murali—each received with warmth and applause. The morning was further enriched by the presence of Ms. Kusuma, Deputy Director of the Department of Horticulture, and Dr. Rajeev Gowda, former MP, who joined the audience in celebrating the performance.

Pictured: M D Pallavi and Praveen D Rao

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Bandstand: Songs of Nature by Karthik Hebbar

On January 25th, the Bandstand hosted Karthik Hebbar with his performance titled Songs of Nature. Known to many through his widely loved social media series Songs from Amma’s Kitchen, Karthik has carved a unique place for himself in Bengaluru’s arts ecosystem—as a singer, composer, theatre director, and a committed queer activist. Despite slight delays in the schedule that morning, the audience displayed remarkable patience and resilience, choosing to stay back and wait, a quiet testament to the trust and affection he commands. When he finally began, the wait felt entirely worth it. Karthik opened with Mudala Maneya, offering his own reflections on the song before moving into stories and music that flowed effortlessly between the personal and the poetic. He spoke about the Kaajana, the Rocket-tailed Drongo, explaining the reason behind its name before singing Kuvempu’s song dedicated to the bird, drawing gentle smiles and nods from the audience. He continued with Toogu Manchadalli Kuthu, a lyrical exploration of Radha and Shyama’s love, and concluded with Deepavu Ninnade. Throughout his performance, Karthik reflected on the rare privilege of singing amidst nature, observing how time seems to pass differently when one is surrounded by trees, birds, and an attentive audience. His words resonated deeply, especially in that moment, as the Bandstand once again became a space where art, environment, and community met without hurry.

Pictured: Karthik Hebbar

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It is always a special time for us, the BLR Hubba, because with each year our horizons broaden. And this year we reach newer heights of community engagement: from fawning fur-buddies to awestruck adults, all of our attendees took back memories from this year's line-up. It was the week that was, and what a week it was.

Authored by:

Chetana Agnihotri

Apeksha Narayan

Photo credit: Apeksha Narayan