This Week In Culture: The Art Of Liberation, South Asia’s First Transmasc Fellowship, & More

Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is one of India’s major festivals celebrated across the country. Although the festival is now associated with Hindu mythology, its origins trace back to harvest festivals in ancient India, and it is not exclusive to Hinduism. Different regions and communities observe Diwali for various reasons based on their traditions. Hindus celebrate it to commemorate Rama’s return to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile; Jains observe it to mark Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankar, achieving nirvana or spiritual liberation; and Sikhs mark the day as 'Bandi Chhorh Diwas', or Day of Emancipation, to remember the release of Guru Hargobind Sahib and 52 other prisoners from Mughal captivity from 1611 to 12. In Bengal, we celebrate the day before Diwali as ‘Bhoot Chaturdashi’, Bengal’s own day of the dead, and the night of Diwali as Kali Puja, the ritual worship of Kolkata’s matron deity. Culturally, Diwali marks the beginning of the harvest season — a time of renewal, rejuvenation, and community. As we sign off for the Diwali break at Homegrown, here’s what we have for you this weekend:

A New Delhi Exhibition Spotlights The Resistance Of South Asian Female Artists

‘Art of Liberation’, an exhibition curated by Shilo Shiv Suleiman along with co-host Tara Lal and Curatorial Advisor Myna Mukherjee, celebrates both fire as a source of liberation and the artists that fuel it. From October 16 - 21, the Travancore Palace in New Delhi will host artworks and installations by female artists from all over South Asia. Musical performances and words by homegrown artists like Sruthi Vishwanathan, Delhi Sultanate, Mahi G, and Aamir Aziz will support the exhibition. Learn more about the exhibition here.

'Heart Of A Protest': An Indian-Led Documentary That Captures The UK's Palestine Marches

In the wake of the genocide that has been unfolding in Gaza since October 7, 2023, a question emerged: how does one capture the essence of a movement that is at once political, deeply personal, and profoundly human?

This question became the guiding principle behind ‘Heart of a Protest’, a zero-budget documentary made in the UK that captures the Palestine Solidarity Campaign National Marches held across London. In a conversation with Homegrown, Ishika Seal, who conceptualised the film, reflects on the power of protest: “It has always been civil disobedience; it has been people taking to the streets that have driven movements forward. Documenting and creating solidarity isn’t just an abstract idea — it exists in the everyday acts that give meaning to life.”

Learn more about the film here.

Varun Nimbolkar’s Indian Experimental Fusion EP Doubles Down On Emotive Storytelling

Fusion music often slips into the easy tropes of improvisation and ornamental crossover. But Varun Nimbolkar’s 'Bah Bah Black Sheep' is something more deliberate, more composed, and distinctly cinematic. The five-track EP is a collage of genres, or rather, a conversation between them. It's a carefully designed soundscape where Indian classical music, electronica, hip-hop, ghazal, and blues cohabit through narrative.

Learn more about the EP here.

Killhouse Fuses Horrorcore Streetwear With Cyber-Grunge And Post-Apocalyptic Futurism

Killhouse is a homegrown brand whose visual language sits at the intersection of post-internet surrealism, Y2K gorecore, and digital decay aesthetics — a raw and chaotic blend that feels equally inspired by early web glitches and body horror. The brand’s identity fuses horrorcore streetwear with cyber-grunge and post-apocalyptic futurism, layering distorted faces, fleshy textures, and corrupted typography over club-industrial motifs. Their visual world feels like a fever dream stitched from broken software, rave ephemera, and digital detritus, building a collapsing internet nightmare. Follow Killhouse here.

Vanaha’s Artisanal Forest Gin Blends Craft, Patience, & Distinctly Goan Botanicals

“I think the perfect way to spend your weekend is by heading to Goa, but maybe this time it was more about reconnecting with the forest or touching the grass, as they say. So, when I learned about a weekend detour with what’s now my favourite gin, I was beyond excited. It’s homegrown, made with 24 botanicals and comes straight out of the Sattari region of North Goa. Vanaha turned out to be much more than just a gin,” Iara writes about Vanaha’s artisanal forest gin here.

‘TAMANNA: Our Bodies, Our Stories’ Is South Asia’s First Fellowship For Transmasculine Voices

Rooted in love, imagination, and collective liberation, Tamanna creates space for trans men, non-binary, and gender-diverse people to reclaim desire, confront violence, and tell their own stories. Open to India-based transmasc individuals aged 18–40, the six-month fellowship (December 2025–June 2026) offers mentorship, community circles, project funding, and a monthly stipend. Applications close October 20, 2025.

Apply here.

If you enjoyed reading this, here’s more from Homegrown:

Inside The Feminist, Anti-Caste, & Queer Heart Of India’s Goth Movement

Where The Past Returns Home: Inside UNESCO’s Virtual Museum Of Stolen Cultural Objects

Cocoon Fine Rugs Brings Modern Design Thinking To India’s Artisanal Weaving Traditions