🎶 Garam Masala Ep. 04 — Baithak

बैठक / بیٹھک · Chai, Classic Music, Poetry

Garam Masala returns for its fourth gathering, and this edition takes the form of a Baithak — an intimate, centuries-old South Asian tradition of music-making, salon-style community connection, and shared listening.

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🪷 What is a Baithak?

Pronounced "bai-thak", the baithak is a tradition rooted in closeness: no elevated stage, no distance between artist and audience. Musicians and listeners sit together — often on the floor — near enough to feel every note resonate. Music here is not performed at you; it is shared with you. Think of it as a space where sound, silence, and conversation are all equally welcome.

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🕯️ Programme for the Evening

Time	What's Happening
7:30pm	🚪 Doors Open
8:30pm	🎵 Intimate semi-classical performances of Hindustani music
10:00pm	🎤 Poetry & Open Floor — in the tradition of Mehfils and Baithaks, the floor belongs to everyone. Bring a poem you love or one you wrote yourself. Read in any language. The theme: rule-breaking — the fluid space between categories, and the beauty of what resists neat binaries
11:00pm–1:00am	🎧 DJ Set — stay and party with us!

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🍽️ Food & Drink

• Your ticket includes a pani-puri snack and a drink 🥤
• South Asian-inspired food will be available for purchase throughout the evening

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🎟️ Tickets

Suggested contribution: €12

Every euro goes directly to supporting the artists and community third spaces. No one should be left out due to financial constraints — reach out if you need subsidised ticketing.

👉 Get tickets here

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🙏 With Gratitude

A heartfelt thank you to the team at O Grilo Beato 💚
Original poster artwork by @heleenatheodore

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🌍 About Garam Masala

Garam Masala is an open invitation for people in Lisbon to gather and celebrate the rich culture and heritage carried in our skin, our songs, our dances, and our food. We are a collective of brown folx based in Lisbon, with roots across four continents — bringing the conversations had over chai and samosas to anyone who wants to celebrate our shared histories together.