Swara Mountain Arts-the amalgamation of talent

The third edition of the Swara Mountain Arts Festival in Dharamshala ended, leaving us excited for next year. The festival began with an opening ceremony at the Jagori Campus. Participants met, shared their reasons for attending, and enjoyed performances by talented artists. This year’s theme was “Rise for Freedom.”

The festival aimed to create a space for artistic imagination, connection, and uprising. It brought together artists and enthusiasts to co-create in various art forms.

The event featured three amazing workshops by talented mentors. Raj Zutshi led “The Pinch and the Ouch,” an acting workshop. Gazala Leela Singh conducted “Seeing With New Eyes, A Journey Into Deep Time,” a meditation workshop. Patanjali Bhati hosted “Flow to Rise,” a painting workshop. Each workshop helped participants escape city life and connect with nature and culture.

At the closing ceremony, participants shared their experiences and showcased their growth over the four days. The final event at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts in McLeodGanj on April 26 featured outstanding performances. Bharatnatyam dancer and yoga exponent Navtej Johar, classical musicians Palash and Neeraj Dholakia, and actor, singer, and poet Piyush Mishra performed.

Swara, meaning the amalgamation of seven music notes, truly combined music, dance, acting, stand-up, beatboxing, painting, and inspirational talks.

The lead image at the top shows a magnificent view from Jagori campus of the Dhauladhar range in Dharamshala.