Arts, crafts, community: How Sunday Soul Sante sustains urban creativity

Launched in 2014, PhotoSparks is a weekly feature from YourStory, with photographs that celebrate the spirit of creativity and innovation. In the earlier 960 posts, we featured an art festival, a cartoon gallery, world music festival, telecom expo, millets fair, climate change expo, wildlife conference, startup festival, Diwali rangoli, and jazz festival.

In keeping with its tradition over the past 15 years, Bengaluru’s Sunday Soul Sante gathered the creative community for its recent edition, aptly titled ‘Boho Love’. It was held at Central Garden, Embassy TechVillage, Outer Ring Road (see our coverage of earlier editions here).

The curated crafts and food fair attracted enthusiasts of all ages – and species too (there were quite a few dogs and cats in attendance). From a local flea market, the Sante has blossomed into a pan-India cultural movement, attracting independent artists and designers as well as large brands.

The fairs have been held in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, and Hyderabad. The next Bengaluru ‘tropical’ edition will be on March 22 at Embassy Manyata Business Park.

As shown in this photo essay, some of the 220+ curated stalls feature fashion, lifestyle products, home décor, art, craft, design, and sustainable products. Each has been created with care and purpose, spanning food and live music as well. The performance lineup included Girish and The Chronicles and Frizzell D’Souza.

Founded in 2010, Sunday Soul Sante has become a popular lifestyle and flea market platform. The founding team includes Asha Rao, Harish Rao, Karan Rao, and Vishal Rao, who have kept the focus consistently on handcrafted, sustainable, and artisanal products that celebrate creativity and conscious living.

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The market provides visibility for handmade product designers, sustainable fashion brands, visual artists, indie musicians, and gourmet food entrepreneurs. They can test new ideas, build direct relationships with customers, and eventually grow from hobbyists to full-fledged businesses.

In a world dominated by online marketplaces and social media, the Sante offers meaningful real-world connections. In addition to spontaneous networking, there are opportunities to convert digital followers into loyal customers – and vice versa.

The platform is about culture, and not just commerce or transactions. It shows that art and entrepreneurship can coexist without losing authenticity. It is particularly well-suited to artisans focused on ethical sourcing, local production, and originality.

In sum, the Sante helps creative communities flourish via visibility, collaboration, validation, and opportunity. It acts as an ecosystem builder by bringing diverse creative disciplines together, encouraging cross-collaborations, creating repeat exposure across editions, and cultivating a loyal audience base.

Over time, events such as the Santhe help shape Bengaluru’s identity as a hub for independent art, design, and culture in addition to technology and startups. It turns visitors into consumers as well as patrons of independent art.

Now, what have you done today to pause in your busy schedule and harness your creative side for a better world?

(All photographs taken by Madanmohan Rao on location at Sunday Soul Sante.)