Culture as quiet therapy

Here's why India is turning to art for mental decompression and inner calm

- Anjali Kochhar

As South Mumbai's heritage precincts pulse with colour, installations and performances during the ongoing Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, another, quieter shift is becoming increasingly visible.

Beyond the crowds and celebratory noise, visitors are drifting into galleries, museums and performance spaces not for spectacle, but for stillness - seeking culture as a form of mental decompression in an otherwise overwhelming world.

Across Indian cities, art galleries, cultural centres and independent spaces are witnessing a steady rise in footfall, particularly for exhibitions and performances that allow audiences to slow down and contemplate. In an age dominated by screens, AI-generated content and constant notifications, culture is being embraced not just as leisure, but as relief.

Drawing people inward

"Immersive cultural experiences have definitely become more attractive over the years," says Abhay Sardesai, Director, Dr Shantilal K Somaiya School of Art. "They draw from several disciplines, media and cultural practices at the same time. Interestingly, this has not resulted in the depletion of audiences in traditional cultural events. Art galleries and playhouses are showing a rise in footfall, religious and secular festivals are growing bigger."

The only space showing contraction, he notes, is cinema halls. "Only cinema houses in the age of streaming services seem to be shrinking, which is one reason why mainstream cinema is seeing success only when it showcases spectacular productions."