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The Ladakh Confluence: Music and mountains

September 12, 2009 8 Comments

28th August, 2009. The sun was scorching and a group of maroon robed musicalmonks paraded across the Sindhu Ghat festival site in Choglamsar some 8km from

Leh declaring it open. We found the only respite from the sun in the shade of alonely tree, prime real estate and sharing the space, we met some of the people who

were to become our best companions for the next four days. The small crowd amix of travellers and creatives and hippies and media all came together at 11, 500feet with a backdrop unlike any other to celebrate local and international music inthe first festival of its kind.

Vedanth Bharadwaj gave me goosebumps, his lilting voice and songs by the great

poet Kabir enchanting. I loved Anna Van Riel and her cute confessional songs and

stories, each a delightful confection. Shaair and Func were wonderful MonicaSharma Dogra is a slam poet gypsy goddess, I liked both their electronic andacoustic sets. I loved the dynamic between Talvin Singh (tabla) and Rahul Sharma

(santoor). Even the moon danced in the sky. Sharma, talented, sexy man that he is

was so expressive and amazing. Davide Swarup and Ortal Pelleg mesmerised.Portugals Terrakota and the energy they brought to the stage were fantastic.

Austrian beatbox boyband Bauchklang were brilliant. But nobody made as big an

impression on me as Kutle Khan, the morchang and khartal playing frontman fromRajasthan Roots. What a rockstar. Fucking. Hell.

There were a few glitches and hitches in the planning and execution and the turnoutcould have been better, but apart from swampy feet, I have nothing but good

memories of the festival the organisers, a lovely and passionate bunch of people,sure to iron out the kinks for subsequent events.

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Other highlights were the beautiful solar powered film tent filled with comfortable

mattresses that showcased short films each day. A water refill tent which I know did

wonders to reduce plastic I know we refilled ours at least 30 times. The food andchai tent where Tsewang, a cute 11 year old boy serenaded us. The after parties!The compostable Ladakhi longdrop for a loo. Yeah, not so much. That novelty ran outreal fast.

Often, we were treated to impromptu performances. Seems everyone became a

musician in the mountains. Witnessing these spontaneous jams was awe-inspiring.My absolute favourite thing were the drum circles each night. Wed gather aroundbonfires, artists included each person with an instrument, a circle of djembe players

and two rows of percussionists behind them with Roberto Narain orchestrating thewhole thing. Powerful, magical stuff.

Peep the show.

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Categories:UncategorizedTagged:India, Ladakh, Music, Photography, Reviews, Travel