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Grammy Winner Ricky Kej Opens Bengaluru’s Biggest Public Art Festival

Posted on March 13, 2026 by City Today News (City today.media)

Bengaluru, March 13, 2026: The ninth edition of the Whitefield Art Collective opened on Friday at VR Bengaluru, transforming the popular lifestyle destination into a vibrant public art hub for a month-long celebration of creativity. The festival, running until April 12, revolves around the theme “Tomorrow, Altered!” and brings together artists, students, and creative communities from across the city.

Environmental activist and Grammy Award-winning composer Ricky Kej inaugurated the festival with a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony and the unveiling of the specially designed ‘Kala Car’. The evening also featured a live musical performance by Kej and a sustainable fashion showcase titled “A Rose for Khadi.”
More than 300 installations, sculptures, paintings and photographs are on display, created largely by students from institutions such as Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, Bangalore University, and leading design schools in the city. A unique attraction this year is a creatively transformed Tesla car, reimagined by artists as a moving canvas blending art, technology and sustainability.

Among the key collaborations is ‘Pockets of Hope’, a photography exhibition presented with UNESCO that highlights marine ecosystems and the importance of environmental conservation. Other exhibits include Cinema Reimagined by artist Gita Hudson and Re-Reading Bangalore, which explores the city’s history through archival maps and visual narratives.

The festival will also host literary sessions, art workshops, photography competitions and an artisanal bazaar featuring local crafts. Organisers say the event aims to make art accessible to the public while nurturing young talent and strengthening Bengaluru’s cultural landscape.

Since its inception in 2016, the Whitefield Art Collective has grown into one of the city’s largest public art festivals, drawing over 2.5 million visitors and showcasing the work of thousands of emerging artists.

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Innovation Meets Opportunity at Startup Mela 5.0 in St. Joseph’s University

Posted on March 13, 2026March 13, 2026 by City Today News (City today.media)

Bengaluru: In a bid to strengthen the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship among young minds, St. Joseph’s University is hosting Startup Mela 5.0 – The Nexus, a flagship initiative by the Entrepreneurship Development Cell (EDC) under the Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC). The event brings together aspiring student entrepreneurs, startup founders, industry experts and innovators on a common platform to exchange ideas and explore opportunities in the fast-growing startup ecosystem.

Designed as a launchpad for future founders, the event encourages students to go beyond classroom learning and turn creative ideas into practical, real-world solutions. By promoting collaboration and hands-on learning, the initiative aims to nurture a strong culture of innovation, creativity and entrepreneurial thinking on campus.

Startup Mela 5.0 features a variety of engaging activities including startup exhibitions, a “Pitch Your Idea” competition, and a series of interactive business challenges. Competitions such as Brandstormers, Crisis Control: CEO Under Fire, and Build for Bangalore push participants to think strategically, respond to simulated corporate crises and develop innovative solutions to urban challenges faced by the city.

The event also includes thought-provoking panel discussions on themes such as “Building Innovative and Sustainable Businesses” and “Building Careers in the Age of AI – What Should Students Look For?”. Industry leaders and experts will share insights on entrepreneurship, sustainability and the changing employment landscape driven by emerging technologies and artificial intelligence.

The programme will be inaugurated by Kishor Jagirdar, an angel investor, innovator, TEDx speaker and startup mentor.
The event will be held in the presence of Rev. Dr. Victor Lobo SJ (Vice-Chancellor), Dr. Syed Wajeed (Registrar), Dr. S. Sivakannan (IIC President), Dr. Pramod KM (IIC Convenor), Mr. P. Venugopal (EDC Coordinator), and Rev. Dr. Roshan Castellino SJ (Dean of Research).

Through Startup Mela 5.0, St. Joseph’s University aims to further its commitment to nurturing entrepreneurial talent, enabling students to connect with mentors and industry leaders, and transform innovative ideas into impactful ventures that contribute to society and the economy.

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ಐದು ದಶಕಗಳ ಕಲಾ ಸೇವೆಗೆ ಮತ್ತೊಂದು ಗೌರವ: ಡಿಂಗ್ರಿ ನಾಗರಾಜ್ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರಾಗಿ ಅವಿರೋಧ ಆಯ್ಕೆ

Posted on March 12, 2026 by City Today News (City today.media)

ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರ ಪೋಷಕರ ಕಲಾವಿದರ ಸಂಘದ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರಾಗಿ ಮೂರನೇ ಬಾರಿ ಡಿಂಗ್ರಿ ನಾಗರಾಜ್ ಅವಿರೋಧ ಆಯ್ಕೆ

ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು, ಮಾ.12: ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರ ಪೋಷಕರ ಕಲಾವಿದರ ಸಂಘದ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರಾಗಿ ಹಿರಿಯ ನಟ ಹಾಗೂ ರಂಗಭೂಮಿ ಕಲಾವಿದ ಡಿಂಗ್ರಿ ನಾಗರಾಜ್ ಮೂರನೇ ಬಾರಿ ಅವಿರೋಧವಾಗಿ ಆಯ್ಕೆಯಾಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಸಂಘದ ಪ್ರಧಾನ ಕಾರ್ಯದರ್ಶಿಯಾಗಿ ಆಡುಗೋಡಿ ಶ್ರೀನಿವಾಸ್ ಎರಡನೇ ಬಾರಿ ಆಯ್ಕೆಯಾಗಿರುವುದು ಗಮನಾರ್ಹ.

ಈ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಘದ ಗೌರವ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರಾದ ಗಂಡಸಿ ಸದಾನಂದ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಮಾತನಾಡಿ, ನೂತನವಾಗಿ ಆಯ್ಕೆಯಾದ ಪದಾಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಅಭಿನಂದನೆ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಿದರು.
79 ವರ್ಷದ ಡಿಂಗ್ರಿ ನಾಗರಾಜ್ ಅವರು ಕನ್ನಡ ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರರಂಗದಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಶಿಷ್ಟ ಸ್ಥಾನ ಪಡೆದಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

800 ಕ್ಕೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಹಾಗೂ 10 ಸಾವಿರಕ್ಕೂ ಅಧಿಕ ನಾಟಕಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಅಭಿನಯಿಸಿರುವುದು ಅವರ ಸಾಧನೆಯಾಗಿದೆ.
ಐದು ದಶಕಗಳಿಗೂ ಅಧಿಕ ಕಾಲದಿಂದ ಕಲಾರಂಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಸೇವೆ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
ಕೋವಿಡ್ ಸಂಕಷ್ಟದ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಕಷ್ಟದಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ಕಲಾವಿದರಿಗೆ ನೆರವು ನೀಡಿದ ಅವರ ಸೇವೆಯನ್ನು ಸದಾನಂದ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ವಿಶೇಷವಾಗಿ ಸ್ಮರಿಸಿದರು.
ಸಂಘದ ಮುಂದಿನ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿಗೆ ಡಿಂಗ್ರಿ ನಾಗರಾಜ್ ನೇತೃತ್ವದಲ್ಲಿ ಹೊಸ ಚೈತನ್ಯ ಮೂಡಲಿ ಎಂದು ಸದಾನಂದ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಆಶಿಸಿದರು.

ಇದೇ ವೇಳೆ ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರ ನಟ ಹಾಗೂ ನಿರ್ಮಾಪಕರಾದ ಗಣೇಶ್ ರಾವ್ ಕೆಸರ್ಕಾರ್ ಮತ್ತು ಹಿರಿಯ ನಟಿ ನವನೀತಂ ಅವರು ನೂತನ ಪದಾಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಅಭಿನಂದನೆ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಿ, ಸಂಘದ ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆಗೆ ಇನ್ನಷ್ಟು ಸೇವೆ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಲಿ ಎಂದು ಹಾರೈಸಿದರು.

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A Stranger’s Gift of Life: Stem Cell Donor Rescues Teen

Posted on March 12, 2026March 12, 2026 by City Today News (City today.media)

Bengaluru Woman Donates Stem Cells, Saves Teen Battling Rare Blood Disorder

Bengaluru, March 12, 2026: A 32-year-old woman from Kumta has given a new lease of life to a teenager suffering from a rare and life-threatening blood disorder, after donating her blood stem cells through a national donor registry.
Swathi, an IT consultant, recently met 19-year-old Anandu for the first time after her stem cell donation helped cure him of severe aplastic anaemia — a condition in which the bone marrow fails to produce enough blood cells.

Anandu’s health crisis began when he was 15 and studying in Class 10. He had been experiencing persistent fever following a dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, which led doctors to investigate further. Tests eventually revealed that he had severe aplastic anaemia, a potentially fatal disorder requiring urgent treatment.

Doctors treating him recommended a blood stem cell transplant, considered the only curative option for the disease. His physician, Dr V.P. Krishnan, consultant in paediatric haemato-oncology and bone marrow transplant at MVR Cancer Centre and Research Institute in Kozhikode, initiated a search for a suitable donor.

Finding a matching donor proved challenging, and the family went through a difficult period marked by emotional and financial stress. The transplant was eventually made possible with support from the DKMS Patient Funding Programme India, which provides partial financial assistance to patients undergoing stem cell transplantation.

Anandu underwent a matched unrelated donor transplant in early 2023. According to Dr Krishnan, the recovery phase included expected complications such as febrile neutropenia and mucositis, but his overall progress remained positive.
“His blood counts stabilised well after the transplant and donor chimerism levels are good. Today he is healthy, attending college and preparing for his Class 12 board examinations,” the doctor said.

Meanwhile, Swathi had first registered as a potential stem cell donor in 2016 during a donor recruitment drive organised at her workplace by DKMS. Six years later, in 2022, she received a call informing her that she was a potential match for a patient in need. Without hesitation, she agreed to donate.

Her decision was strongly supported by her family, including her husband. Swathi says the experience became even more meaningful when she later became a mother herself.
“Now that I have a baby boy, I understand even more deeply what parents go through when their child is suffering. Being able to help save a life feels incredibly special,” she said.

Health experts say such acts of voluntary donation are crucial, as the chances of finding a matching donor remain low in India. Patrick Paul, Executive Chairman of DKMS India, said that only about 0.09% of the country’s eligible population is currently registered as potential blood stem cell donors.

“In Karnataka alone, more than 49,000 individuals have registered as potential donors, with around 38,000 from Bengaluru. Stories like Swathi and Anandu’s highlight the lifesaving impact of donor registration and the urgent need for more volunteers,” he said.

Dr Govind Eriat, consultant haemato-oncologist and bone marrow transplant specialist at Cytecare Hospitals in Bengaluru, said that for patients with severe aplastic anaemia, a stem cell transplant can often be the only curative treatment.

“Finding a compatible donor remains one of the biggest challenges. Anandu’s recovery shows the resilience of patients and families facing such illnesses, while Swathi’s generosity demonstrates how a single decision can give someone a second chance at life,” he said.

Individuals aged between 18 and 55 years who are in good health, have a body mass index below 40 and are not already registered can sign up as potential blood stem cell donors through the DKMS registry.

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Fortis Launches Four Specialised Clinics in Bengaluru to Tackle Under-Discussed Health Issues

Posted on March 11, 2026 by City Today News (City today.media)

Fortis launches four specialised clinics in Bengaluru to address sensitive health concerns

Bengaluru, March 11: Fortis Healthcare on Wednesday announced the launch of four specialised clinics across its hospital network in Bengaluru, aimed at addressing several sensitive and often under-discussed health issues.
The clinics – Man Clinic, Incontinence Clinic, Restorative Gynaecology Clinic, and Mobile Lithotripsy Services – were inaugurated by Dr. Sharan Prakash Patil, Minister for Medical Education, Government of Karnataka, in the presence of doctors, hospital leadership, staff and patients. Around 150 people attended the event.

According to the hospital group, the newly introduced services aim to provide focused and patient-centric care while encouraging people to seek treatment for conditions that are often neglected due to social stigma or lack of awareness.
The Man Clinic will focus on men’s health issues such as sexual wellness, prostate-related problems, infertility, hormonal imbalances and lifestyle-related conditions. The facility will provide multidisciplinary care with an emphasis on privacy and specialised treatment.

The Incontinence Clinic will cater to patients suffering from urinary or bowel incontinence across different age groups and genders. The clinic will combine expertise from urology, gynaecology and physiotherapy to offer advanced diagnostic and minimally invasive treatment options.

The Restorative Gynaecology Clinic will provide care for women facing intimate health concerns, functional issues and certain aesthetic gynaecological conditions, using evidence-based treatment approaches delivered with discretion.

The hospital group also introduced Mobile Lithotripsy Services, a minimally invasive technology designed to treat kidney stones more efficiently while reducing hospital stay and improving patient comfort.

Speaking at the inauguration, Patil said healthcare must evolve not only through technology but also by addressing sensitive health concerns with openness and dignity. Initiatives like these, he said, can help break social stigma and encourage people to seek timely medical consultation.

Dr. Mohan Keshavamurthy, Principal Director – Renal Sciences at Fortis Hospitals, Bengaluru, said conditions such as male sexual health issues, incontinence and kidney stones are more common than generally acknowledged, but many patients delay treatment due to hesitation in discussing them.
“Through these clinics, we hope to normalise conversations around such health concerns while offering advanced and minimally invasive treatment backed by multidisciplinary expertise,” he said.

Dr. Ananth Rao, Vice President and Business Head, Fortis Hospitals, Bengaluru, said the initiative strengthens the hospital group’s focus on specialised and patient-centric healthcare. He added that the clinics combine advanced medical technology with integrated clinical pathways designed to ensure patient privacy, comfort and dignity.

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