Avare Mela Returns for 25th Edition, Celebrating Bengaluru's Beloved Bean
Avare Mela, which began in 2000 to support Magadi farmers, is back for its 25th edition from December 27, 2024, to January 5, 2025, at National College grounds, featuring 125 avare-based dishes.
The 25th edition of Avare Mela, one of Bengaluru's most anticipated food festivals, is being held from December 27, 2024, to January 5, 2025, at the National College grounds. The event, which celebrates the versatile avarekayi (hyacinth bean) and avare bele (shelled beans), has grown from a modest initiative to a massive affair with a footfall of around four lakh in its previous edition.
The story of Avare Mela dates back to 1995, when farmers from Magadi would bring their produce to southern Bengaluru. At the time, avarekayi was not popular among residents, and nearly half of what the farmers brought would go to waste. Geetha Shivakumar, a local resident, noticed the farmers discarding the peeled beans (hidkid bele) at the end of the day. She offered to buy the leftover stock and began making savouries under the brand Shree Vasavi Condiments.
In 2000, Shivakumar organised a small mela to celebrate and support the farmers she had been sourcing from. The first event featured around 10 dishes, including avare nippattu, chikki, mixture, and avarekaalu saaru. Over the years, the mela has expanded its menu, adding one new dish annually. For the 25th edition, a total of 125 dishes will be served, with 25 new additions such as avarekaalu mayonnaise, avarekaalu pasta, and avarekaalu chocolate. "We have a gourmet menu and a bakery menu all featuring avare," said Swathi K. S., Shivakumar's daughter and the event's organiser.
What started with just four farmers now involves over 500 farmers supplying avare. Vasanna, a farmer from Magadi who was among the first four, continues to supply beans for the mela. Reflecting on the journey, he noted that in the early 2000s, a kilogram of avare bele was priced at ₹20–25, while it now sells for ₹250–300 per kilogram. The quantity used at the mela has also risen from 300–500 kilograms to several tonnes.
The mela was previously held around the popular food street in V. V. Puram until 2023, when it moved to National College Grounds to accommodate the growing crowds. Swathi emphasised the unsung efforts behind the scenes: "There is no chemical or machine to help with the peeling of avarekayi. Women do it in their houses and then it comes to the market. We want people to know about their efforts."