The untamed musical night in himalayas!

Have you ever sat at your balcony or terrace with a coffee mug or a beer bottle in hand and music on? While the cool breeze play with your hair and you snuggle closer with your partner you would have wished to listen to your favorite band play in front of you along with the delicious aroma of food wafting through your nose. Sounds straight out of a dream right? In the hustle and pollution filled environment of city life, all we get is a closed and loaded pub to enjoy the music.

This holi, I had the opportunity to attend the music event named "Unheard music and art festival" that was held in Dharamshala ( in Himanchal Pradesh) 

Amidst lush green fields. snow covered mountains, mesmerizing voices of peacocks, birds, streams and under a billion stars we camped for 3 days that was the duration of the event. Apart from the tents, there were food stalls and proper washroom facilities. Two big man made swimming pools at the corners gave respite from the heat at the day time and bonfires at various distance during the nights kept the guests warm from the chill.

The event was a nice blend of art and music. There were workshops like Doodling workshop, for the Ishan Avasthi in you (Tare zameen par fame).  acrylic painting workshop, for those who wanted to paint he world in bright colors. Dream catcher workshop, for all the dreamers who want to make this a better place to live in. Poetry workshop, for the budding poets and Rumi of tomorrow. Drum circle workshop to depict harmony and serenity among nature and humans.

But apart from the various workshops, what attracted and pulled all the audience towards itself were the various bands that came, performed and conquered the heart and soul of all of us. The magic was lead by Fakiri Band, whose djembe thumps and the unique piece of music by the lead singer on the Indian society compelled everyone to make loud thud noises which filled up the camp site. Then came with a loose kurta pajama, a boy of 20 years Ashran, So cute he could steal your girlfriend, and a voice so mesmerizing that you would let him. His self composed songs connected straight to everyone’s life and relationships.

Then came on the stage, a noodle hair spectacular young man with his gang, Mayabini Band. Mayabini varies from songs on life/love/blinding politics/religion and every sphere of life that the band experience themselves. But the self composed songs, their co-ordination, confidence, vocals and music dispersed so many emotions in the audience that you could see people snuggling up close with their loved ones towards the bonfire with a glass of scotch in their hand. Yes! they evoked a feeling of warmth and hot chocolate on a winter night.

As the time elapsed and the sun starts setting far away in the horizon, the fairy lights twinkled like stars, logs of wood burned angrily at frequent distance, cold wind blew and concussed the audience to pull their partners and pullovers closer. Glasses starts getting re-filled and to amplify the warmth, came Ahen. Most of the world anyways love sardarjis because of their jolly nature, helpful demeanor and contagious energies, and he was no less. Once he initiated with his compositions, he created such a affectation that the entire campsite echoed with the loud cheer, damp eyes and thudding footsteps.

Night drew nearer and proportionally the excitement, energy and exhilaration of the guests also increased manifold. We have not yet been able to get over the buzz of Ahen that another beautiful artist came on stage- Kalyani. She was a one woman army without a band. But with just her guitar, heart warming smile and enthralling voice, she extended such solace, serenity and peace that you could listen to the happiness in your heart.

At almost around 12 in the midnight, when the moon shone in it’s full glory, the dhauladhars were bathing in the moon light, the chill of the winter increased and the fire died down. Anyone would think that the audience must have been tired and was retiring to their respective tents. But the craze and anticipated welcome of Gaurav Kadu from Fiddle craft bulldozed everyone for loud exuberance. He stepped up on the stage and took the event by storm. The crowd went mad, laughing, dancing, singing along and plunged themselves completely to mark the end of the day at around 3 in the morning.

The next day Mohit Morani made everyone guffaw till their stomachs ached with his witty and light hearted comedy. Holi celebrations started right after this and everyone smeared themselves in the colors of life, forgetting the caste, color, religion, creed, gender. True to it’s nature, Holi united everyone once again, this time at a strange place, among strangers, who, along with the vibrance of colors, took with themselves he vibrance of new friendships, memories and promises to visit again.

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