The queen of niche kitsch
From someone who had her first bazaar in 1997, she is now a name to reckon with. Asha Rao is synonymous with the Sunday Soul Sante, a flea market that is held five times a year in Bengaluru.
Asha has no qualms in taking pride in the fact that she’s the one who began the trend of flea markets that have become du jour across the country. From Bengaluru, Asha now plans to take the Sunday Soul Sante to other cities like Goa, Mumbai and Delhi.
Walk into one of these flea markets and you will know exactly what we’re talking about. Those who haven’t, picture this… complete camaraderie, a carnival-like atmosphere with music, fashion, beer, arts and crafts, with over 200 stalls from some of the most edgy, quirky, offbeat and talented artists from across the country.
The idea of adding pizzazz to the mundane bazaar and giving a platform for young people to showcase their creations was where it all began. Asha gushes, “I get calls from people from places such as Nagpur, Ranchi, Kottayam, Kochi and even remote cities who want to sell their products. A market has to have the right hustle-bustle. I have a very stringent policy of selecting only the best. Apart from a party-like atmosphere, you will never find stuff that you get at regular handloom exhibitions or stores — from elephant dung created stationary, to tattoos in Sanskrit, turned wood products giving Channapatna toys a twist and digital prints on canvas shoes, besides quirky stuff and every vendor is screened.
“My three sons Karan Rao, (actor and model), Vishal (real estate) and Harish (e-commerce) have helped me through the entire thick and thin, besides Sanam (my lady Friday), who is my angel.”
Many would be surprised to hear how a name that has such a holistic vibe came about just like that. Asha says, “One day I found a small market below my house and I shouted from my terrace asking the street vendors what they call their market and they said Sante. I knew I wanted mine to be on a Sunday and there I was with the name.
“I feel appreciating art is important. My journey began with a passion for finding out indigenous products and meeting new people. After helping set up the Kahawa Art Gallery and Studio Sattva, it was time where a large section from the suburb was ready to spend their Sundays doing something different.”
“It is almost like a picnic for the droves of people who can spend their energy and get pooped by the end of the day,” she adds.
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