BENGALURU: With an aim to start a dialogue and promote evironmental cnsciousness and conservation, Grammy award winning music composer Ricky Kej will be hosting the first edition of ‘Roundglass Samsara Festival’ in Bengaluru, in October.
The festival will include several events such as an environmental film festival, a music concert, summits, an art exhibition and childrens’ competitions – all of which will centre on the theme of environment and conservation. “This festival is a global heralding of conscious action,” says Ricky.
The art exhibition will showcase works by various well-known artists, appreciating nature and conservation. Eminent artists whose work will be on display include Amoghvarsha,
Tasneem Khan, Umeed Mistry, Bhushan Bagadia, Sairam Sagiraju and Pooja Gupta.
The ‘Roundglass Samsara Summit’, an international environmental summit will aim to promote the importance of environmental consciousness and conservation through discussions and dialogue.
“The summit will be a gathering of thought leaders, legislators, industry leaders, environmentalists, religious leaders, scientists and innovators who will discuss our response to the ecological crisis,” says the professor of the National Institute of Advanced Studies at the Indian Institute of Science.
Ricky’s Grammy winning album “Winds of Samsara” was based on the ideals of peace by Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. Since then, he claims to have dedicated his life and music to creating environmental consciousness and awareness on climate change.
What the musician is looking forward to the most at the festival is to experience interactions between artists, people from the scientific community from across the globe, thought leaders and legislators in coming up with solutions and impactful ideas to solve the ecological crisis.
Ricky’s latest album ‘SHANTI SAMSARA’, was launched in the presence of world leaders at the United Nations COP21 Paris Summit. He was recently awarded the United Nations “Global Humanitarian Artist” title.The festival believes that the environment is a natural extension of the self. One cannot exist without the other, says Ricky.
“A drastic change in our ways is the need of the hour, a realignment with the collective goal that is bigger than ourselves. We believe that each individual life plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance that serves all equally,” he adds.Through art, appreciation and dialogue, the festival encourages one to “consciously work together towards a future that is bright and beautiful for everyone, especially the future generation,” says the 36-year-old conservationist and animal rights activist. The festival will be held between October 1 and 8 in the city.
As a precursor to the festival, children’s debate, quiz and art competitions were hoted from August 9 to 11 at the Amphitheatre, UB City.Around 400 students from city schools including Army Public School, Vidyashilp Academy, Delhi Public School, Parikrma (Koramangala, Nandini Layout, Indiranagar, Jayanagar), Dream-a-Dream, Bishop Cotton’s Boys School, Bishop Cotton’s Girls School, PSBB LLA, National Centre for Excellence and Sherwood High participated in the contests.
The winners of the debate and quiz competitions are being groomed to speak in front of world leaders, scientists, industrialists, legislators and others at the ‘RoundGlass Samsara Summit’, which will be held at Vidhana Soudha and NIAS (National Institute of Advanced Studies) on October 7 and 8 respectively.