Open up to a world of melodies, people, and discovery. The hills of Naukuchiatal in Uttarakhand had been lashed by a storm and the sky was still overcast. All around me, the sounds of synthesisers and heavy bass lines meshed in an animated frenzy as I lay on the grass at the Escape Festival, discovering new music. While listening to music is often a solitary activity, it takes on a different aspect when it becomes a shared pleasure. I’ve always thought that music sounds best when heard at a concert. While the performers respond to the pulse of a crowd, the energy of the audience is in a state of constant change, mounting with each strum of the guitar, each beat of the drum, each trill of a singer. It’s something that no solitary listening experience can replicate. I had been to Naukuchiatal only a few years before, but when I revisited it in 2011 for the Escape Festival, it seemed completely different. Gone was the sleepiness of the small hill town. Instead, Naukuchiatal was gripped by infectious waves of excitement, brought by the hundreds of visitors who had swept in for the festival. Familiar faces kept springing up. Not-so-familiar faces—the ones you often notice at your pub or the ones you rub shoulders with while jumping around at a gig—showed up as well. Only this time, the meetings were more leisurely and meaningful than a courteous smile or brotherly fist bump. For the music lover, festivals are like a pilgrimage. Fans plan months in advance and congregate from across the world with the same delirious ecstasy that is seen at religious gatherings. Some festivals cater to specific interests and genres of music, but the best are those that offer the temptation of the unknown. I experienced something similar in Jodhpur. The Rajasthan International Folk Festival (popularly known as Jodhpur RIFF) had been highly recommended. It was the first time I’d travelled alone to a music festival. To make the trip doubly daunting, having been brought up on a staple diet of rock ’n’ roll, I knew next to nothing about folk music. The first thing I thought to do was to look around for interesting people, which is amazingly simple at the music festival. The company of friends, old or new, is essential because even for someone with eclectic tastes, it’s hard to love all the bands playing at a festival. You pick the ones you like, and when the ones you don't like are performing, you need friends for deep conversations and drunken adventures. It wasn’t just music that I bonded over with my new friends—it was mutual love of books, art, travel, and all the things that make life beautiful. This led to a camaraderie and some of us ended up travelling together to other music festivals. Like Naukuchiatal, Jodhpur felt transformed during the festival—especially the venue, Mehrangarh Fort. Shorn of its usual tourist traffic, the fort witnessed spectacular displays of folk music and dance, presented in a manner that would have once been the privilege of the royals. I wouldn’t ever choose folk music over rock ’n’ roll, but I wouldn't blink an eye before agreeing to go for RIFF again. It’s hard to put a finger on what makes travelling to a music festival so fulfilling. It’s not just the musicians. It's not just the people who turn up. It's not just the destination. It’s how much of yourself you add to it all, how much you are willing to venture into a new world of music with the spirit of discovery that is so essential for enjoyable travel. —Asif Khan Music Festivals In India Over the last decade, India’s western music scene has evolved from revolutions of rock to the current craze for electronic dance music. The demand for different genres has led to numerous well-organised festivals. The biggest ones are usually in the biggest cities. However, there are many smaller, more intimate festivals spread across scenic locales that are perfect for a melodious getaway. Scenic FestsWorld Sufi Spirit Festival
Jodhpur and Nagaur February 22-24, 2016 in Nagaur and February 26-27, 2016 in Jodhpur Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur and Ahhichatragarh Fort, Nagaur, provide inspiring backdrops for performers of this festival. Artistes from mystic traditions like Sufism, theyyam, and Bheth, take part.www.worldsufispiritfestival.org. Kasauli Rhythm & Blues Festival Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh March 25-27, 2016 The festival is headlined by established Indian R&B artists. Attendees buy donor cards and proceeds help the underprivileged. www.genesis-foundation.net. The Big Gig Mussoorie, Uttarakhand Around May The Big Gig features Indian acts, including school and college bands. Part of the proceeds are donated to charity. www.facebook.com/biggigfestival. Escape Festival Nubra Valley, Jammu and Kashmir Around August One of the first festivals to allow onsite camping, Escape is a relaxed music festival in an idyllic setting. Previous editions were organised at Naukuchiatal in Uttarakhand. www.facebook.com/escapefestival. Ziro Festival Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh September 24-27, 2015 Northeast India has traditionally fostered a vibrant alternative indie music scene. The Ziro Festival was the first to get Indian bands to perform with local musicians. www.zirofestival.com Rajasthan International Folk Festival Jodhpur, Rajasthan October 23-27, 2015 Few festivals have a venue as majestic as the Jodhpur RIFF. Held within the Mehrangarh Fort, this festival showcases Rajasthan’s best folk musicians. The inclusion of world musicians adds to the diversity. www.jodhpurriff.org. Hornbill Festival Kisama, Nagaland December 1-10, 2015 Traditional drummers take centre stage as performers from Naga tribes dance to the beats all day. As the sun sets, the new generation takes over. The crowd gets noisier at the Hornbill Rock Contest.www.hornbillfestival.com. Sunburn Festival Goa December With a large line-up of electronic music, this festival is one of India’s most successful. Before this year's festival in Goa, there will be city editions in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Delhi in November. www.sunburn.in. Ragasthan Jaisalmer, Rajasthan February 11-14, 2016 Ragasthan kicked off in December 2012 with performances by folk and indie artists. It included stages, movie screens, and tents pitched on the desert sand dunes. www.ragasthan.com. |
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