Bangalore: In the past three decades, the growth of our Bangalore has admittedly given us much cause for anxiety, alongside the enthusiasm. Bangalore apart from being a hub of corporate and commercial enterprises must also become a model for a lifestyle of grace necessary for art and culture.

To restore the essence of all that is Bangalore to Bangaloreans, AFFA designed a festival of unparalleled scale and ambition harmonious with the cosmopolitan taste of our people and successfully delivered Bangalore Habba (fest) - 2003.

Between 7 - 14 December 2004, the Habba not only brought before the city's audiences the most prestigious names from all over India in music, dance and other performing arts, but, true to its founding purpose, AFFA helped fashion a platform that the brightest and the best in Karnataka could share with national artistes.

Among the 850 artistes that participated in last year's Habba, about 800 were from Karnataka. The total audience turn out at the events was in excess of 300,000.

It is our ambition to make Bangalore Habba - 2004 a success to surpass last year's version. We present before you over 1000 artistes — national stalwarts in the fields of music, dance and stage arts, entertainers, magicians, films, comedies, culinary delights, crafts, variety and vibrancy — in our programme for Bangalore Habba - 2004. Come celebrate Bangalore.

Artistes' Foundation For the Arts (AFFA):

Indian Art & Culture is one of the oldest, most exciting and vibrant traditions in the history of world civilisations. However, its place in the modern world is gravely threatened. Some of the most well known lovers of art in this country for the purpose of nourishing the myriad of artistic forms that our country is so famous for have come together to form Artistes' Foundation for the Arts (AFFA).

AFFA aims to create a deep impact on the perspective, practice and performance of the arts with a view towards enhancing creativity and excellence in the true sense of the term. It is striving to achieve this by developing programs that integrate artists, writers, experts on traditional knowledge and modern tastes. Through these activities, AFFA is confident that not only the old, but also the young, will be drawn to the in-depth, creative processes that lead to new and exciting end-results.