By Karan Malhotra
India has always been a melting pot of cultural and artistic diversity, and the wide range of musical talent across the country is a testament to the same.
A number of incredible music festivals are held every year all over the country, and they bring both popular artists as well as diamonds in the rough to light.
Whether it is folk rock, Eastern classical, heavy metal or EDM, you won’t have to look too far to find a concert where your favorite genre is being played. The organizers have taken cues from the best global festivals and host each of these festivals in exotic locations to cater to music lovers like never before.
Each festival is an unparalleled experience, and it is not too long before India finds a place on the list of top music festivals worldwide.
The Music Run, Bengaluru
One of the most unique festivals around; this amazing event couples music with good health to organize a long run, followed by a dance and a party like no other, all with brilliant music being played all around.
There will be live bands, the best DJs in the world, laser shows, gigantic LED screens, giveaways, chill out zones, fireworks and everything you could ever imagine- it’s a party for a cause, and running has never sounded more fun.
Kundalini Festival, Manali
The Kundalini festival is one of India’s most anticipated psytrance events, and brings together a stellar combination of music with a camping experience, mountain vacation and a flea market too!
Jodhpur Flamenco & Gypsy Festival, Jodhpur
This festival is held in the incredible Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur and celebrates the colorful, brilliant gypsy culture, or the Romani culture which finds its roots in India.
It brings a modern twist to Rajasthani nomadic folk music by combining it with performances from world-famous gypsy and Flamenco artists. It is a massive platform which allows you to get in touch with your roots and embrace them like never before.
Mood Indigo, Mumbai
Mood Indigo, IIT Bombay’s annual cultural festival has been held every year for nearly 50 years now, and it attracts 100,000 attendees every single time. There are a number of great events held here, the most striking of which is the talent hunt and the dance, pop and folk acts.
There have been performances in the past by the biggest names in the business, be it Bollywood singers for events like Pritam or electronic moguls like Borgeous and Sander van Doorn.
Ziro Festival, Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh
Widely regarded as the most versatile and wonderful music festival of the country and affectionately termed the Woodstock of India, the Ziro festival is a three-day celebration of folk and indie music like no other.
In just the three years that it has been around, it has gained tremendous love and popularity among Indian music lovers. The location is incredibly beautiful, and visitors have the option of purchasing day-long tickets or camping out there.
Sunburn Festival, Goa
Sunburn is almost directly analogous to Vegas’ famous Electric Daisy Carnival and is among India’s largest and most popular music festivals. 2015 marked the fifteenth year for Sunburn and attracted more than 350,000 people from as many as 50 different countries to indulge in the revelry.
The performers include the biggest names in the EDM business, like Martin Garrix, David Guetta, Kygo, Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike and many, many more. The 2,500 square foot LED lighting, 100 sound boxes and the huge, efficient workforce ensure that you will have the best time ever.
Conclusion
These are the very best events held every year in India. If you are truly passionate about music and wish to experience a phenomenon worth remembering for the rest of your life, you should definitely visit each of these festivals.
Author Bio: Karan Malhotra is an event organizer and music buff. He has been involved in a number of large-scale music events all over the country over the last decade, and is dedicated to making great music accessible to people all over the country, with an experience rivaling even the best global festivals. He shares information about new and upcoming events on his blog, and also shares links for sites like http://magnifique.in/.