SHILLONG:
The third edition of Hills Festival on November 4 and 5 on the scenic banks of Umiam promises to be a unique confluence of local and national musicians along with a wide range of regional cuisines from various districts of the state.
The festival organised by HYPE Meghalaya and backed by Meghalaya Tourism, which will make a comeback after a Covid-induced two-year hiatus, aims at putting the ‘abode of clouds’ on the national map to mirror the exhilarating mix of nature, good food and foot-tapping musical beats.
The interesting line-up of some well-known musical artistes is what one must look forward to. Taba Chake, known for his albums like Bombay Dreams, hails from Arunachal Pradesh and is set to be one of the major attractions of the music festival.
Along with him, artistes like Bloodywood, Hanumankind, Yung Raja, Karan Kanchan, Tasnneem are certainly expected to rock the stage and make it an experience of a lifetime.
Apart from the wide array of international and national musicians, the festival is also hosting several local talents (music, art, crafts, dance, and food) whilst providing them a platform to engage and showcase their work to the audience.
The next big attraction is the innovative concept of ‘Forage Aisle’ where the local cuisine will be on display by dedicating an exclusive dining area. The concept was inspired by the traditional concept of ‘foraging.’
But the twist is a renowned Mumbai Chef Thomas Zacharias aka Chef TZac, along with some local chefs who will present their own rendition of the recipes which will serve as a culinary exchange of national and local.
That not being all, one can reconnect with nature while enjoying delicious local cuisine and dancing to the beats of these amazing musicians in glamping tents; sky gazing and making memories for a lifetime will be an addition.
Cycling tracks are also to be a part of the festival for the audience to wander about on nature trails. The organisers have also been mindful of parents who would want to attend the two-day festival and have arranged the playcare section which will serve as a safe space for the younglings.
At the same time, the festival also aims at promoting green initiatives while giving the audience enduring memories. The installations there will be entirely made with recycled and repurposed material created by local artistes and artisans. They will embody the mythical tales of the state, much like the famous Living Root Bridge which will be re-imagined into the performance stage, a representation of the relationship the people share with nature.
To ensure minimum wastage and cleanliness there will be arrangements of RO water stations, solar-powered stations, biodegradable service ware and plastic flex for promotional backdrops will be replaced with recycled paper and bamboo.
The theme of this year being ‘The Spirit of Meghalaya,’ the festival aims to provide the patrons souvenirs to reminisce.