Auditoriums and public art spaces in Jalandhar have long been the cultural focal points of the city. They bear collective testimony to the fact that our culturally-rich city never fails to recognise art and its connoisseurs. These halls have proudly hosted several cultural luminaries who have lost their lives to the virus. Some of them being Pt Rajan Mishra, Pt Debu Chaudhary and his son Pratik Chudhary. Hosting a multitude of events, debates and humanitarian activities, these auditoriums have also been a launch pad for several artistes. Though all these epicentres of art lost their sheen and fell silent during the pandemic, there contribution will never fail to resonate with the art aficionados in the city. Have a look.

Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Hall

The most unique thing about Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Hall is the Baba Jwala Singh Thatthiyan Auditorium (named after Ghadarite and a farmer Baba Jwala Singh Thatthiyan, who left his farms in the US to mobilise the peasant movement, during the Independence, in Punjab) From playwright Gursharan Singh to Pakistani theatre artist Madiha Gauhar, it has hosted different personalities of various lineages. Constructed in the 1970s, when Ghadarite Baba Bhagat Singh Bilga was still alive, it acted as a hub for the Marxist, Socialist and the Left discourse. Not just a space for creative outlet, it also became a platform to express political dissent during old times.

The KL Saigal Memorial Hall

The KL Saigal Memorial Hall is dedicated to legendary actor KL Saigal and draws artistes from all corners of the country. It has hosted countless classical musicians performing at the Harivallabh’s seasonal music festivals. The theatre group Yuvaa began the concept of paid theatre performances here, giving platform to many artistes, with several of its shows running to packed capacity here. While the Saigal Memorial Hall was just a bare structure earlier, it got a fillip in 2014-15, when artisans and masons brought in from Delhi fashioned into a state-of-the-art auditorium with sound proof interiors and acoustics. This was done under the patronage of its chairman Gursharan Singh and president Sukhdev Raj.

Red Cross Bhawan

Lending space to several humanitarian activities in the city, the foundation stone of the Red Cross Bhawan’s Mutipurpose Hall was laid by the then Deputy Commissioner Jalandhar on February 4, 1981. Its opening ceremony was performed by the then Commssioner Jalandhar Division Dinesh Chandra on January 2, 1985. From artistic, political to philanthropic activities, it has hosted a number of gatherings over the years. During the pandemic, it played host to vaccination drives carried out here. The Red Cross Bhawan also takes up other intiatives related to theatre, art and music concerts.

Shri Ram Hall

The Shri Ram Hall at Devi Talab Mandir has been a witness to decades of contests, providing a platform to younger artistes. Many times, even Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan is hosted here. The Ram Hall used to host devotional musical congregations and gatherings throughout the year. Built in the 1980s, the hall is a congregational place for religious gatherings, where the temple trust provdes space for free. It was also an art hub which even hosted painting exhbition of Amit Zurff, an artist who succumbed to Covid this year.

Virsa Vihar

Virsa Vihar, right next to the Yadgaar Hall, has nurtured art and offered patronage to both budding and veteran artistes of Jalandhar. Its Satya Paul Art Gallery has been a launch pad to many artistes, painters, sculptors, photographers and authors. Conceived by former Rajya Sabha member Kartar Singh Duggal, a known patron of arts and culture, the Jalandhar Virsa Vihar was one of the three projects planned for the cities of Jalandhar, Amritsar and Kapurthala. Registered as the District Cultural Society, it was completed with an amount of over Rs1 crore. Over the years, with the introduction of the Satya Paul Art Gallery, it thrived as a space which gave an impetus to several painters, sculptors and photographers.