- Gujarat takes centre stage at South Asia’s largest multidisciplinary arts festival in Goa, Dec 12–21
- The Serendipity Arts Foundation announces a new partnership with the inaugural Ahmedabad Cultural Week (ACW) in collaboration with India Art Fair
NE FEATURES BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, OCT 7
India’s most anticipated cultural event, the Serendipity Arts Festival (SAF), returns to Goa this December for its 10th edition, running from December 12–21, 2025. Over the past decade, SAF has evolved into South Asia’s premier multidisciplinary arts platform, uniting visual arts, theatre, dance, music, craft, design, photography, and culinary traditions under one vibrant umbrella.
This landmark year promises an expanded vision of collaboration, creativity, and community engagement — transforming Goa’s riverfront promenades, heritage buildings, and public parks into a living, breathing celebration of artistic expression. Registrations are now open on the official festival website for Art Passes, workshops, performances, and exhibitions. Register here.
Gujarat at the heart of the celebration
Gujarat will play a special role in this milestone edition, with several key curations inspired by the region’s rich artistic legacy.
At the Plaza, Kala Academy, from December 14–21, the WEFT Foundation presents “The Games People Play,” curated by Harsh Bhavsar. The exhibit reinterprets ancient Indian board games—such as Chaupar, Gyan Chaupar, Nav-kakdi, and Wagh Bakri—using traditional materials and craft processes. Designed as an interactive installation, it invites visitors to rediscover mythology, mathematics, and morality through the act of play.
“Gujarat has always been a crucible of craft, tradition, and design thinking,” says curator Harsh Bhavsar. “Bringing these ideas into dialogue with a festival of Serendipity’s scale allows local practices to speak to global audiences.”
Other Gujarat-inspired highlights include:
- “Home Is Where the Heart Is” — curated by Kristine Michael, exploring belonging and memory through handmade crafts, featuring a Gujarati artist.
- “Stepwells: Poetry in Craft” — curated by Anjana Somany, tracing the architectural and cultural imagination of Gujarat and Rajasthan’s stepwells.
- Serendipity Soundscapes — presenting Vaarso by Priya Saraiya and Anandadhara by Sourendro & Soumyojit, curated by Aneesh Pradhan and Shubha Mudgal, celebrating Gujarati and Rajasthani folk-fusion traditions.
A pan-Indian Festival of 150+ Events
The 10th edition will feature over 150 performances and exhibitions, spanning:
- Theatre & Performance Arts — curated by Anuradha Kapur and Lillete Dubey, bringing contemporary adaptations to life.
- Culinary Arts — led by Chef Thomas Zacharias & The Locavore and Chef Manu Chandra, offering immersive, experimental food journeys.
- Music — from jazz-fusion by Zubin Balaporia and Ehsaan Noorani to classical compositions by Shubha Mudgal, Aneesh Pradhan, and Bickram Ghosh.
- Visual Arts — curated by Rahaab Allana, Dinesh Khanna, Rashmi Varma, Sandeep Sangaru, Veerangana Solanki, Ranjit Hoskote, Sudarshan Shetty, and others, exploring photography, craft, and contemporary art.
Looking ahead: Expanding the Serendipity footprint
As it celebrates a decade of cultural excellence, the Serendipity Arts Foundation announced a new partnership with the inaugural Ahmedabad Cultural Week (ACW) in collaboration with India Art Fair. This partnership aims to expand access to the arts across India, bridging traditional heritage with contemporary expression.
The Foundation congratulated ACW on this visionary initiative, emphasizing that art thrives through collaboration and inclusivity — values that have defined Serendipity’s journey since its inception.
A decade of discovery and dialogue
The Serendipity Arts Festival 2025 is set to be its most ambitious edition yet — a space where India’s diverse artistic voices converge and where Gujarat’s creative legacy shines on the national stage.
From December 12–21, Goa becomes India’s cultural heartbeat.
Be there to witness a decade of Serendipity — and the beginning of the next.
