Bengaluru: Karnataka will host an Urdu festival on the grand steps of Vidhana Soudha on November 9 to mark Urdu Day, making it the first such government-sponsored event to be held at the iconic venue.
Health and Family Welfare, Minority Welfare, Haj and Wakf Minister UT Khader announced the initiative while interacting with representatives of Urdu newspapers on the fourth day of Karnataka Parva 2026.
Khader said the festival aims to showcase not just Urdu language and literature, but also the culture, traditions and art forms associated with the language to people across communities.
The minister said the idea was conceived from the view that Vidhana Soudha premises, which host programmes associated with various government departments and sectors, could also serve as a platform for a major celebration of Urdu language and literature.
The proposed festival will go beyond literary programmes, with plans to showcase Urdu books, cuisine and different forms of art and cultural expression, Khader said.
“The objective is to introduce the richness of Urdu language and its associated cultural traditions to a wider audience,” he said.
The government intends to position the event as a platform bringing together literature, food and the arts, while highlighting the cultural diversity associated with Urdu.
The November 9 programme is expected to bring together writers, artists, cultural representatives and members of the Urdu-speaking community at Vidhana Soudha, providing a public platform for celebrating the language and its heritage.