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In Search of….spaces for creativity and cultural expression beyond Chandigarh

Updated: Aug 17, 2024




Join us on our search for safe and friendly spaces to experience, engage with or participate in creative or cultural expression in Punjab (outside of Chandigarh)


Here is a line from an article about the Holla Mohalla festival at Anandpur Sahib: “The testosterone level during the Hola Mohalla festival at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab is so high, even the beasts of burden twirl their moustache.” Even the word ‘Hola’ is the male version of the word ‘Holi” - it's just not a safe space for anyone except men in their prime, let alone anyone trying to express themselves or form their interpretation of what culture means.


Here is a video about the Maghi Mela in Muktsar, a centuries-old traditional festival that's more political and alpha male than ever in 2024. I’ll be so grateful if you can spot one woman, child or differently abled person in the crowd.


A search for theater events or plays in Punjab yields the sad screen, which is the banner image for this blog post. 

And a search for performing arts learning centres in Punjab yields 8 results, compared to 33 in Maharashtra.



Where are the plays? The art galleries or exhibitions? The learning spaces for our youth or anyone to experiment with or create anything remotely beyond the pale of ‘traditional art and craft’? Where are the opinions, expressions and innovations?


It’s ironic how a state known for its ‘rich cultural heritage and traditions’ is so sorely lacking in any safe spaces for people to interpret, create and innovate with culture or creativity outside the genteel climes of Chandigarh and perhaps a space or two in larger towns like Amritsar, Patiala or Bhatinda. 


I’ve lived in Punjab for close to 15 years now, in a town called Muktsar which is about 40 minutes from Bhatinda and 2 hours from Amritsar. In this time, the only ‘cultural’ and ‘artistic’ exposure I’ve managed to get outside of Chandigarh is the Virasat-e-Khalsa museum, which is just an hour outside of Chandigarh. 


No doubt the museum is a masterpiece of architecture and a masterful telling of Sikh life, history and heritage. But it's not an open space for experimental art, craft, culture or theater, and that's what the Punjab Cultural Project team has been in search of. 


So far, it’s been a futile search.

And if we don’t find them, we’ll just have to create them. Won’t we?


Will you join us?


We start this mission-led adventure with our first event in Mandi Gobindgarh (not Chandigarh), in September 2024.


The PCP Dialogues

Edition #1 | Building Punjab's Cultural Economy: Challenges, Opportunities and Action

Saturday, 28th September 2024 | Mandi Gobindgarh, Punjab




Our goal with this event is to gather 50 people who are actively involved in art, culture and creativity in some form or other and preferably, practice it in Punjab.


We hope to create a ‘hivemind’ of such cultural changemakers, champions and challengers, and bring forth a fount of concrete, practical ideas and ways to actually create a more thriving culture of creativity in Punjab. 


Are you one of our fifty? Please fill this form and let us know! We would love to have you join us!


And if you know others who should be there, who have personally struggled with the lack of spaces and opportunities for such cultural and creative freedoms in Punjab, please share this event with them too!


The half-day event will feature two curated panel discussions and small group breakout sessions to gather and document ideas that can serve as the mission for PCP and other organizations and collectives like ours who want to do more for cultural regeneration in Punjab.


Here is what you can expect at the event:


Interactive Panel discussions

Panel #1

  1. Is there a cultural deficit plaguing Punjab? Do we need a cultural revival or regermination in Punjab? For whom? (Who are the stakeholders?)

  2. What are the most pressing gaps and opportunities for culture in Punjab? How can we help culture evolve and contemporize for new generations?


Panel #2

  1. What specific actions can help practitioners (producers) thrive and practice their art fearlessly? 

  2. How can more citizens (consumers) be enthused to engage with and champion cultural activities across Punjab?


Breakout groups with all 50 participants

5 breakout groups will discuss, record and present concrete actions that can be taken to help the identified stakeholders better create, access and engage with culture in Punjab. Post-event, the PCP team will compile all the points into an actionable roadmap and share with participants and other stakeholders. We will also adopt some of them into our own project schedule for the year.



To join us at The PCP Dialogues, Edition#1: Building Punjab's Cultural Economy, please register by filling out this form, and a PCP team member will be in touch promptly!




See you on the 28th of September at Mandi Gobindgarh (Not Chandigarh!)


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