February Music Fever
Here are some of the exciting music festivals that are going to rock the whole of February month!
Music is like catharsis. You listen to some soul-stirring tunes and your heart sings the same melodies all day. It soothes us from within and is a kind of mental rejuvenation. While music has different genres liked by different people, there is surely certain types of music fests that are huge crowd pullers and attract people from across boundaries. Here we have charted out the top music fests in India that unite people over music and culture. So dive into the world of such amazing rhapsodies and read on!
Matho Nagrang Festival- Ladakh
If you want to enter the whimsical land of oracles, prophesies, dance and music then Ladakh’s mountainous valleys are a perfect abode as they host the 'Matho Narang Festival'. The festival takes place on the 15th day of the first month of the Tibetan Calendar which is during February/ March as per the Gregorian Calendar. One of the major attractions of this festival is the performance of Cham Dance (Mask Dance) that is done on traditional music. Besides, this major crowd puller remains the oracles who predict people’s future.
World Music Festival - Udaipur
The city of lakes, Udaipur becomes all the more enchanting in February with musical notes playing on its beguiling land. The city organizes the ‘Udaipur World Music Festival’ calling global artists and bands from over 20 countries emblematic of cultural diversity. So if you are a lover of intricately carved art and architecture then Udaipur's melodies will transport you to an otherworldly realm. From Brazilian, Kurdish, Indie to the folk songs of the region, this cross-cultural affair at the lakeside venues amid the Mewari royal charm of the city will make you feel spell bounded!
While music has different genres liked by different people, there is surely certain types of music fests that are huge crowd pullers and attract people from across boundaries.
Desert Festival- Jaisalmer
If you want to taste the local rustic charm of Rajasthan then, Jaisalmer Desert Festival is a must go. Filled with fun, music, dance and laughter the major attractions at the festival include puppet shows, acrobatics, folk music, camel race, moustache competition and a lot more. Besides the festival, one can also see the vibrant culture of Rajasthan on their shopping spree at local markets like Manak Chowk, Bhatia Bazaar, Pansari Bazaar and Sadar Bazaar to name some.
Mahindra Blues Festival- Mumbai
Considered as India’s biggest blues festival, this festival is held at Mehboob Studios and has been reviving the legacy of the Blues music genre that originated in the United States in the 1860s by the African American community. The guitar rippin’ and soul trippin’ festival is like a cultural bridge between the artist community and music lovers from India and abroad having hosted icons like Robert Randolf, Popa Chubby, Jonny Lang, Walter Trout, John Lee Hooker, Kenny Wayne and Buddy Guy to name some.
World Sacred Spirit Festival- Jodhpur
Rajasthan is perhaps the abode of artists. In its many colours lies a romanticism with its art, architecture, food, folklores, dressing and so much more. To celebrate the cultural vivacity, the state holds many festivals of which the ‘Sacred Spirit Festival’ of Jodhpur is one. This festival is unique as it awakens the divine in us making us all ecstatic. This euphoric event sees participation from over 200 artists that belong to more than 10 countries. From Rakesh Chaurasia to Areej Sufi Ensemble, Manganiyaar Children to many more, the festival’s spiritual melodies will surely take your breath away if you are looking for solace.
Goa Carnival
The beaches of Goa have been hosting a reverie for over 500 years! We are talking about the Goa carnival, which is being hosted by the Catholic Portuguese settlers who settled in colonies centuries back. However, over time, the festival has broken communal barriers and is more inclusive. This festival is the concoction of mad music, dance, drink and fun. Its major attractions include a great procession flocked by dancers, bands of troubadours disguised as fortune tellers, dressed up men and women in the procession, firecrackers complemented by the rhythm of music and power-packed percussions like cymbals, drums, violins and ghumats.
Deccan Festival- Hyderabad
The city of nawabs is a hub of cultural activities. It hosts the Deccan Festival that sees art, culture and culinary delights of the place. What adds magic to the festival is the qawwalis, ghazals and poetry that mesmerise the visitors who are reminded of how beautifully the symphony of music and poetry bewitches one. The pleasure won’t stop here as one can also delve into the shopping of jewellery, handicrafts and many other things that herald the legacy of Deccan.
From the February-March 2021 issue of FHM India.
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