Bhoomi Habba 2026 spotlights community-led climate action through art, food, storytelling and more...

Mercy Kappen: In the past, we focused heavily on specific crises — like the water crisis, plastic pollution or building general climate resilience. This year, ‘Restore, Reclaim’ moves the focus from surviving climate change to actively exploring solutions. ‘Restore’ is about healing our damaged ecosystems, soil and water bodies and restoring our symbiotic relationship with the earth. ‘Reclaim’ is about common people taking back their power and ownership over environmental solutions. The core philosophy is that the most sustainable paths to climate action belong to communities working together at the grassroots level. This year, the physical layout is explicitly categorised to map out community paths to climate action. When you walk in through Gate 1, you are immediately greeted by interactive soil exhibitions and composting zones to visualise ‘Restoration.’ We also feature information campaigns here, including setups by Azim Premji University and the ClimActive Initiative, to ground visitors in community-led solutions right from the start. The interactive zones are scattered under our tree canopy — expanding from the Temple Tree spaces down to the CRC Courtyard, the Rain Tree and our mango and chikku orchards. This drastically reduces the need for temporary, wasteful structures. Signs and installations are made entirely from upcycled campus waste and our water stations showcase local rainwater harvesting.

Nazar PS: Our core vision was simple: find artistes who do not just sing about nature, but whose very identities and survival are tied to it. We prioritised folk bands, indigenous musicians and grassroots cultural groups. These communities are deeply aware of climate change and its impact on lives and livelihoods. They have spent generations documenting agricultural struggles and adaptation strategies through oral traditions. The goal was to give marginalised voices a major platform to tell their own stories, shifting the climate narrative away from academic panic and toward human resilience.

Mercy: Art simplifies what science can sometimes make intimidating. This year, our lineup features the Indian Folk Band, who will deliver environmental songs breaking down how shifts in weather patterns impact traditional crop cycles. Nearby on the same stage, Parvathy Narippatta and Ajay Srinidhi present Echoes of Kabir, translating deep oral wisdom into human stories. Over at the Amphitheatre, Megha Malhar will perform Breathing Roots, a somatic movement performance that visualises data about forest degradation. The musical energy culminates in a heavy percussion concluding event from 5 pm to 7 pm at the Amphitheatre, featuring Balu Djembe, a tamate team from Chitradurga and special theatre and dance presentations.

Nazar: Our theatre section is focusing heavily on contemporary, real-world conflicts this year. Audiences will see performances tackling the human cost of rapid urban expansion, corporate exploitation of indigenous lands and the systemic realities of environmental injustice — particularly how climate change hits marginalised women and rural communities hardest. These real-world struggles will be brought to life across the campus landscape rather than on traditional stages. Renuka Renu will stage Poetree right under the shade of the tamarind tree, while a dedicated production by Mariyamma Chudi will be performed under the mango tree.

Mercy: We know people are anxious about the environment, but don’t know where to start. Our conversation circles are specifically designed to bridge that gap. Instead of boring, topdown lectures, we have interactive talk circles featuring community leaders, urban activists and grassroots organisers. At the Main Office space, Ramya Iyer will host Story Heart Circles to help attendees process climate anxieties. To translate these feelings into direct civic action, we have hands-on interactive sessions like the Waste Management Workshop by the ClimActive Initiative, as well as Theatre for Climate Action led by Ravi Ramaswamy and performative storytelling by Anish Victor.

Nazar: Reclaiming our food system is one of the fastest ways to fight climate change because indigenous culinary wisdom relies on biodiversity and hyper-local, climate-resilient ingredients that require minimal water and zero chemical fertilisers. At the Mandapa, Kashmira Rao from the Athmashakti Trust will lead a specialised workshop on Indigenous Food Traditions. Stalls like the Timbaktu Collective will serve authentic Ragi Mudde and Natu Kodi Chicken, while Smitha’s Kitchen showcases regional coastal resilience with Appam, Stew and Malabar Fish Curry. You can also sample traditional, nutrient-dense regional meals at the Bandhavi Khanavali stall and healthy, gut-friendly millet dishes at The Tummy Temple.

Mercy: For shoppers, the marketplace is a massive, low-waste lifestyle destination spread across specialised curation zones. The CRC Courtyard serves as a core hub for organic farm staples, heirloom millets and sustainable crafts. The Aala Zone forms a dedicated cluster for naturally dyed handlooms, khadi and upcycled garments

Nazar: Bhoomi Habba is very much an active, participative festival rather than a passive viewing experience. For adults, we have a packed lineup of practical workshops running all day concurrently across our campus. Visitors can learn the physical craft of recycling fibres at Visthar’s Srujana Recycled Paper Unit, engage in tactile creation with the Abheek Academy team or give DIY upcycling and block-printing activities a try. For those interested in sustainable engineering, Antara Mukherjee will guide participants through mechanical karakuri puppet-making using eco-friendly materials. Finally, for attendees looking to understand urban biodiversity firsthand, David Selvaraj will lead an immersive Nature Walk directly through our eco sanctuary.

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