Music and Youth
Echoes of Earth festival illuminates Delhi’s ecosystem with conservation focus
Mumbai: Delhi’s iconic Auro Kitchen Bar recently came alive with the award-winning ‘Echoes of Earth’ music festival, held this Friday, November 15th. The event celebrated the city’s rich biodiversity and showcased the evolving ecosystems of Delhi throughout the changing seasons.
The evening kicked off with a thought-provoking panel discussion hosted by ‘WWF-India’, the festival’s conservation knowledge partner. The discussion explored the critical role of trees in urban ecosystems and highlighted the seasonal changes trees undergo. Experts shared insights into nurturing and protecting trees, emphasising their beauty and ecological significance for future generations.
The panel featured distinguished speakers, including Neha Sinha, conservation biologist and Head of Conservation Partnerships at ‘WWF-India’, and Anita Mani, author and publisher at ‘Indian Pitta Books’. Vijay Dhasmana, eco-restoration and rewilding practitioner, moderated the engaging session.
Mani highlighted the importance of reviving habitats for endangered species, stating, “Nostalgic questions such as ‘where have the sparrows gone’ are ironic, as we have relentlessly removed their habitats with our hedge-less manicured gardens and glass-fronted buildings that lack the niches and corners they need for nesting. If we revive their habitats, they will return.”
Sinha followed up, adding, “There used to be a certain Delhi aesthetic. A house with a garden and a creeper on the side of the building. That sustained ants and birds and small animals. Today we have blocks of flats and plastic grass. It’s still not too late to convert each garden, verandah and terrace into a refuge for wildlife. Plant native – pipal semal and banyan trees, vajradanti and madhabi lata plants. Reduce chemical use. Let’s have tens of thousands of native gardens in each city, creating a corridor for butterflies, birds, and wild animals.”
Vijay Dhasmana concluded, saying, “Rewilding is gaining momentum, and there is growing awareness about recreating habitats. In our landscapes, native plants play a vital role in establishing such habitats. These native species are highly resilient and remarkably tolerant, offering hope in the face of changing climatic conditions. Delhi is home to more than 235 tree species, making it one of the greenest capitals in the world.”
Conservationist Benhail Antao, best known for hosting National Geographic’s ‘Snakes SOS: Goa’s Wildest’, led an interactive session on coexisting with wildlife. Antao, who has extensive experience rescuing animals, especially snakes, educated attendees on the behaviours and roles of often-misunderstood species in urban settings. He emphasised the importance of empathy in fostering harmonious coexistence with wildlife.
Antao remarked, “We cannot thrive alone as a species; our survival depends on coexisting with all life around us. To coexist, we must empathise—yet empathy cannot flourish where fear reigns. And fear is born from ignorance and misinformation.”
The evening then transitioned into a musical celebration. Zenguin’s soulful melodies provided a serene backdrop, captivating the audience as the night unfolded. The festival reached its zenith with a stunning performance by Vieux Farka Touré, the “Hendrix of the Sahara.” Touré, known for blending traditional African rhythms with jazz and blues, delivered an unforgettable performance, leaving the crowd mesmerised.
Echoes of Earth’s 7th edition continues to champion the intersection of art and activism. By drawing attention to the vital importance of local ecosystems and global conservation efforts, the festival serves as a platform to ignite conversations and inspire action toward environmental preservation. Through its dynamic programming, Echoes of Earth hopes to foster a worldwide community of advocates dedicated to protecting the planet’s future.
MUMBAI: Mumbai is about to witness something it has never seen before. The Global Youth Festival arrives on 6-7 December at Jio World Garden with 15,000 attendees and 60-plus experiences sprawled across six sprawling arenas. On its sixth edition, this is no ordinary jamboree—it is a carefully orchestrated collision of wellness, adventure, arts, music, yoga and social change.
Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis will throw open the proceedings with a landmark ceremony, signalling the state’s backing for a movement that has already mobilised youth across 20-plus countries and 170-plus cities. The sheer scale is staggering: 500-plus volunteers powering the machine, 600,000-plus volunteer hours logged across previous editions, and millions of lives touched annually.
The speaker roster is formidable. Diipa Büller-Khosla and Dipali Goenka, chief executive of Welspun India, will share the stage with Malaika Arora in conversations spanning leadership, creativity and culture. Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Mansukhbhai Mandaviya will also attend, reinforcing GYF’s reach into the corridors of power.
But this is not mere talk. The Solaris Mainstage promises concerts from renowned Indian artists. Innerverse delivers a 360-degree LED spectacle of art, technology and sound. The Love and Care Arena houses hands-on projects spanning women’s empowerment, child education, rural upliftment and animal welfare. India’s largest outdoor sound-healing experience awaits. An inflatable obstacle course, neon drifter karts and open-sky bouldering cater to thrill-seekers.
Some have branded GYF the “Coachella of Consciousness.” Others call it “India’s Largest Sober Festival.” Spiritual visionary Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji, who inspired the festival, will deliver the Wisdom Masterclass. Every rupee goes to charity.
After Mumbai comes Kolkata on 14 December. New York looms next year. For one weekend in December, Mumbai becomes the epicentre of youth-driven change—and nothing will be quite the same after.
Tickets available on BookMyShow. Visit youthfestival.srmd.org or follow @globalyouthfestival on Instagram.
