Karnataka to host first Urdu Habba festival at Vidhana Soudha

The Karnataka government has announced it will host the state’s first-ever ‘Urdu Habba’ (Urdu Festival) at the Vidhana Soudha on November 9 to celebrate Urdu Day. Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Minister UT Khader stated that the festival aims to showcase Urdu language, literature, culture, heritage, and art forms to various communities across the state.

The event is planned to include a book fair, food festival, cultural programs, an annual award ceremony, and a grand Mushaira. Minister Khader emphasized that the festival is intended to serve as a collective cultural platform to introduce Urdu poetry, prose, music, and heritage to the broader public.

The decision has faced criticism from BJP MLA S Suresh Kumar, who objected to the choice of venue. Kumar argued that Vidhana Soudha serves as a symbol of Kannadiga identity and characterized the move as ‘vote-bank appeasement of a particular community.’