Highlights from the RoundGlass Samsara Festival

International artists, photographers, political dignitaries, filmmakers and award-winning musicians came together to participate in the 10-day RoundGlass Samsara Festival that took place in Bengaluru from October 2-11, 2017.

The festival used a variety of mediums – music, art, film, and a host of panels to highlight the cause of our environment and the threats it faces.

The festival opened with a four-day film festival showcasing movies from around the world that were screened at three prestigious locations in Bengaluru: the National Institute of Advanced Studies, the Suchitra Film Society and the National Gallery of Modern Art. It was followed by a week-long art exhibition that opened with a glittering evening of music, wine and cheese on October 4.

The art exhibitions showcased photographs, paintings, and installations by artists and photographers such as Dhritiman Mukherjee, Meitel Rusdia, Amoghavarsha and many more.

On October 6, 146 musicians came together to perform at a musical concert at a most unusual venue, the Vidhana Soudha, which was celebrating its 60th anniversary that month.

The evening of soul-stirring music ended with the performers and audience taking a pledge to protect our environment.

A two-day summit on October 7 and 8, brought together conservationists, researchers and thought leaders from India and around the world to brainstorm on the most important threats confronting our planet and the best ways to combat them.

The summit was hosted at the Vidhana Soudha and the NIAS auditorium, and speakers included former president of Kiribati, Anote Tong, Indian Member of Parliament Jairam Ramesh, Indian actor and activist Dia Mirza and many more.