Inside a rainbow bazaar in Pune: ‘open mic was new, gave everyone a voice’

Written by Reet Mulchandani

Walking into the Satrangi Mela, the first thing that hits you is the singer’s baritone. He’s one of the many taking the floor for the open mic. All around the floor is an assortment of colours and people bustling. Consisting of handmade jewellery, knitwear, pride pendants, stickers, paintings and a tarot card reader, the dozen stalls present display the work of LGBTQIA artists and allies. Everyone is buzzing as they wait for the drag performances to start.

The Mela came at the heels of the Pride March held on Sunday at Sambhaji Park. Occurring bi-monthly, Pride melas and bazaars like the Satrangi have not only become an increasingly popular way of recreation but also a way of empowerment in Pune.

“This time the open mic was something new and definitely commendable. It gives everyone a chance to voice their opinions and experiences,” says Dhrubo, a Masters research programme student at IISER. For many, Pride events often are the only way to network with other queer members. “At the Satrangi, the security asked me whether I was comfortable being checked by a male or a female guard and that was a first for me,” says one of the participants.

“In drag shows, I am one of the only ones who does a (queer) folk dance- lavani. I want to promote my dance worldwide. I think art has no limits, no boundaries and can combine everyone. Through Pride events, people can open up to new experiences. At the Satrangi, even people who weren’t familiar with lavani were able to connect,” says Kiran Kore, a professional dancer and makeup artist. Kore has performed at a dozen Pride events so far.

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For drag artist Sanket Sveronic (aka Veronica), whose first drag performance in Pune was in 2018, the Satrangi was a comeback performance after his battle with cancer. He says, “I like performing at venues where it’s not just a queer crowd. Because when I do that, then heterosexual people respect me and my art more. In the five years that I have been performing, the audience has evolved. There is more acceptance now. People (performers) experiment more, have more confidence.”