The season of harvest, cooling temperatures and darkening nights arrive in Hapoli, which means the Ziro Festival season is officially upon us once again.
If you have never been to Ziro Festival of Music, we would highly recommend it. It is an amazing experience to camp multiple days with nothing more to think about than music, self-assured that you will see some amazing musicians live in the span of just four days.
But be aware! Ziro Festival of Music is not what the perfectly staged Instagram and Facebook posts would have you believe. We want to talk about five facts that you should never expect to happen in the Ziro festival. The following set of information will let you enjoy the festival to the fullest rather than spending your time in disappointment.
Ziro Festival is not an Electronic Music Festival
Many first-timers ask us, ‘If this is a Techno Festival?’ or ‘Is there any DJ performing at the festival?’.
The answer is – “Ziro Festival is not an Electronic Music Festival!”
It is India’s greatest outdoor music festival where independent artists with enormous musical talent, from multiple genres, are invited to perform in a span of four days. From blues, rock and roll, hip-hop, folk, fusion to Indian classical music there are no boundaries for music in Ziro Festival.
So far bands and solo artists like Mono, Indus Creed, Reggae Rajahs, Damo Suzuki, Divine, Soulmate, Barmer Boys, Prateek Kuhad and many others have mesmerized the crowd with their soulful music.
This one of a kind music festival is for anyone and everyone. However, considering the distance from the mainland, only the chosen one can make it to the Ziro Festival of Music.
Luxury Lies in Simplicity of the Ziro Festival of Music
The luxury of the Ziro music festival lies in its raw nature. The bamboo stages in the backdrop of lush green paddy fields, soulful music, never-ending flow of rice beer, mystic weather, friendly locals, like-minded attendees and the camping experience turn our complex life into awesomely simple.
Wouldn’t that make you happy?
Nights inside the cozy tents, gossips around the bonfire, singing your lungs out at night, great hangover next morning, walking in the woods with the gumboot on, and getting drenched in the rain can happen only once a year and that too in Ziro.
Although there are hotels and resorts in the valley, the rates are exorbitantly high during the festival. Thus, it is better to camp rather than looking for a bed in a hotel or any resort.
So why to stay at a luxurious hotel or resort when you can camp under the canopy of a million stars.
Decamp yourself from anything which is ‘High Speed’
Going traveling or any music festival used to mean getting away from it all but nowadays it means posting on Instagram. This may not be the same in Ziro. With more than 5000 festival attendees in those four or five days, the internet or phone connection will be scarce at most of the places in Ziro Valley.
Many of us are attracted to our phones by the ‘fear of missing out’ but in the Ziro music festival – you are not the one missing anything. So don’t search for high-speed internet and connectivity, this festival will ensure you a healthy digital detox. The best place to declutter your mind!
BSNL, Vodafone, & Airtel network is available in Ziro but due to over usage, it can be used only for calls; more likely the better ones.
There Ain’t no Uber in Ziro
Any mode of transport is a good mode of transport in Ziro. You will have to cover distances on foot or try hitchhiking. There are no carpooling or online cabs available in the valley. Even if you see a pick-up vehicle going in the same direction as yours then just hop-on. Almost all the campsites and hotels are located at a walkable distance of about one or one and a half kilometer from the festival ground.
To go to Hapoli, the commercial hub of Ziro Valley, you may or may not find a taxi from the campsite or the venue so hone your communication skills to ask for a lift. Usually, the locals are very friendly, they will even drop you the extra mile if needed.
Few local vendors also rent-out bicycles on an hourly or daily basis but the inventory is limited. Best is to bring a good pair of walking shoes and rain gear to explore the valley on foot.
Ziro Tolerance for Drugs
Do not dare to frisk any contraband inside the venue or in any of the campsite. The local community and authorities are very strict about the consumption of any narcotic drug in Ziro Valley. There are instances when festival attendees got caught with drugs and they were detained at the police station and later deported from the valley.
You can surely get high on local rice beer or Kiwi wine and if that’s not your thing then there are a couple of wine shops available near the venue. The food stalls inside the festival ground also sell different local brews. There is also a big bar inside the venue to quench your thirst. But DRINK RESPONSIBLY!
So these are the few things which you should never expect in Ziro during the festival time. I hope all your questions got the right answers. If you want to know what more can be done in those four days of the Ziro festival than read our blog – The Ultimate Itinerary for the Ziro Festival of Music.
If you need to know anything else or you want to add more to the list then do not hesitate to write us info@kitemanja.com. See you at the Ziro Festival of Music!
