On a recent Saturday afternoon, there was much more noise than the usual clinking of cups at Vieux Café. A dozen strangers sat at a long wooden table, hunched over sheets of handmade paper, arranging delicate bougainvillea petals and fern leaves into serene compositions. There was no instructor with a microphone and no rush to get the job done. For about three hours, the conversation flowed between color palettes and childhood memories while hands worked patiently on the craft of pressed flower art. The theme was Galentine’s Day, yet the mood felt less themed and more attentive.
The gathering was organized by the Strings Community, a collective started by Harsh Jain and Sai Vamsi Malykula four months ago. Harsh, who works in financial investments, felt that the city offered dining and cinema experiences but little room for measured entertainment. He and Sai wanted to gather small groups where people could participate in quality experiences.
Strings community participants in Visakhapatnam. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
“We like to keep our sessions around three hours because art loses its meaning in a hurry,” explains Jain. “When people sit down with a medium they understand it more deeply. The aim is to create settings where conversations unfold naturally and where the work at the table becomes a shared language.”
Earlier workshops included clay trinket making at Babi Cha Café near RK Beach. Jain says the attendance reflects a balanced mix of men and women. “It reassured us that the interest is not limited to any one demographic. There is curiosity across the board.”
It appears that such curiosity is shaping a quiet change across the city. Beaches, public parks and independent cafes are increasingly doubling as informal cultural centers on Saturdays and Sundays. Instead of defaulting to malls, a section of residents are gravitating towards activity-based gatherings that promise interaction without any pressure.
Communize Vizag program in Visakhapatnam. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Communized Vizag represents the more expansive end of this development. Founded six months ago by data analyst Roshan Polmarsetty and a group of colleagues, the platform now hosts about 20 clubs ranging from book discussions and tracking to Formula 1 enthusiasts and art sessions. Finance and startup conversations are expected to join the roster soon. By mid-February, the collective will have completed 45 events.
Before launching, Roshan says, the team conducted a survey to identify what was missing in the city. “We realized that people were looking for places where they could connect with others beyond transactional exchanges. Options were limited. That insight encouraged us to organize interest-specific clubs so people could find people who cared about the same topics.”
The reaction of the Formula 1 clubs surprised even the organisers. “More than 70 individuals signed up to be part of that circle. None of them were personal acquaintances. They found us independently. This confirmed that there was a demand for the structure.” On February 14, Communize Vizag is hosting a paint-themed gathering at Cheroni Café around the ideas of Valentines and Galentine’s Day. The program follows the group’s activity calendar which includes treks and reading sessions.
Komal Bagrodia Saraf at his Vizag Coffee Club in Visakhapatnam. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
For Komal Bagrodia Saraf, this change has a personal dimension. She moved to Visakhapatnam from Rajasthan two years ago after her marriage and found herself navigating an unfamiliar social terrain with no extended family around. Vizag Coffee Club began as an attempt to overcome his own isolation. Since then, she has organized paint-and-coffee mornings, pickleball meetups, and a vision board workshop.
“It’s wonderful to see strangers come and go like acquaintances,” she says. “At one session, someone talked about wanting to be a disc jockey at age 60. The room responded with encouragement rather than amusement. Age seemed irrelevant in that moment. These meetings allow people to express aspirations they might otherwise keep private.” Their next event, scheduled at Zorro Café, combines games with a gift exchange for Galentine’s Day. She says the emphasis is less on celebration and more on participation. “People aren’t just participating in an activity. They’re invested in a shared experience.”
Saree Picnic event of Art Social Vizag at VMRDA Park, Visakhapatnam. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Public parks are also taking on new roles. Art Social Vizag, started by IT professional Kiranmayi Srinija and her sister Bhargavi, began as a way to reconnect with their own artistic inclinations. Years ago, the sisters supplied handmade greeting cards to local stores such as Archies Gallery and Darling Paradise. In January, she organized a reusable rangoli mat workshop for children. However, one of their most talked-about events came in the form of the Saree Art Picnic at the VMRDA Park.
A girl engrossed in artwork at the event of Art Social Vizag in Visakhapatnam. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The participants arrived wearing sarees and sat on mats under the trees for a session on Nature Journaling and Flower Hammering using high GSM paper. “The park completely changed the atmosphere,” says Kiranmayi. “Working outside introduced a certain mindfulness. The setting encouraged participants to observe rather than simply produce. It remains one of my favorite sessions.” Cost is carefully considered. Organizers acknowledge that Visakhapatnam is sensitive to pricing, and most workshops are designed to remain accessible. “The intention is to develop networking and skill-building without making it prohibitive,” says Kiranmayi. Art Social Vizag’s upcoming Valentine’s Day event will be held at Brew N Que Café, continuing the pattern of cafés serving as collaborative spaces.
(Reach the groups on their Instagram handles @strings_community, @communize.vizag, @komal_bagrodia and @artsocialvizag).
published – February 13, 2026 10:24 am IST