Source: Swara Mountain Arts Festival (IV) April 2025 & dharteindia

“A Grand Finale to Remember! The Swara Mountain Arts Festival concluded on a breathtaking note with a full house and hearts brimming with joy and gratitude. Under the powerful theme ‘Rise – For the Dancing Mother Earth & the Harmony of Five Elements,’ the evening lit up the College Auditorium in Dharamshala with spectacular performances that left the audience spellbound. Thank you to everyone who came together to celebrate the Earth, art, and each other. This Grand Finale wasn’t just a performance – it was a prayer, a celebration, and a powerful call to rise in harmony with nature. Until next time, may your soul keep dancing with the rhythm of the Earth.

Spectacular performances that left the audience spellbound:
• Padmashri Shovana Narayan mesmerized with her grace and depth in Kathak
• Sonam Kalra moved hearts with her soul-stirring voice
• Mangka Laihui brought the spirit of Manipur alive with her rich, resonant performance
• Dashugs ignited the stage with their fusion of Ladakhi folk and contemporary rock
• Aditya Vardhan captivated us with his dynamic semi-classical dance

We were deeply honored by the presence of Sikyong Penpa Tsering, Prime Minister of the Tibetan Government in Exile, as our Chief Guest.” – swaramountainartsfestival

Videos from the first four days of the festival:

“DAY 1: The fourth edition of the Swara Mountain Arts Festival began on April 8th, in the picturesque town of Dharamshala, drawing a vibrant mix of creative minds, artists, activists, and thought leaders from across India, as well as international participants from countries like the Netherlands and Taiwan.

Open circle of all workshop participants and mentors began, followed workshops and then a fun filled evening of performances.

Artists including singer and guitarist Chirag Sharma, Himachali folk singer Urvashi Jamwal, American folk and jazz singer Siheun, and classical musicians Neeraj and Palash Dholakia, captivated the audience with their musical talents, contributing to a dynamic and inclusive celebration of culture and art.”

“DAY 2 of Swara Mountain Arts Festival was pure joy – the kind that moves through music, poetry, movement, and community spirit!

From spontaneous open mic magic to soul-touching performances Kartik, Himanshu, Sukhmani, and the graceful First Pick Line Dancers – the evening overflowed with art and love. Workshops through the day lit up minds and hearts, while food pop-ups, quirky stalls, and shared laughter made it unforgettable.

Mother Earth danced with us. Harmony flowed through us. Gratitude to everyone who showed up and made it real.”

“DAY 3: What a magical evening it was! Day 3 of Swara Mountain Arts Festival (April 10) lit up Jagori Rural with the spirit of music, poetry, and dance — all in honor of Dancing Mother Earth and the Harmony of Five Elements.

From open mic voices to a powerful lineup of performances, the energy was pure love and art in motion. Heartfelt thanks to the incredible artists who made the evening unforgettable:
• Irawati Harshe Mayadev for her moving poetry,
• Anuradha Sharma for her soulful voice and guitar,
• Maskhara for powerful shayari,
• Sukhraj Singh for beautiful melodies,
• Vatayan for drumming up the heartbeat of the evening, and
• Surjit for a captivating dance that brought it all home.”

“DAY 4: Swara Open gate celebrations Evening
Our last open gate celebration was nothing short of magical! The air was alive with joy, art, rhythm, and gratitude as all the workshop participants came together to showcase what they had learnt, shared, and created over these four unforgettable days.

Here was the incredible line-up that lit up our final evening:
• Sayeda Hameed – Soul-stirring Poetry
• Thangka Art Exhibition – A window into the sacred art of the Himalayas
• Surjit & Group – Powerful Dance Presentation
• Sukhmani & Group – Whimsical Clowning Performance
• Neeraj Dholakia, Palash Dholakia & Group – Heartful Musical Performance
• Vatayan – Energetic Djembe Solo
• Suvajit Mandal – Graceful Dance offering

Video by @kabirsahni1

Thank you to every artist, participant, and soul who joined us for this celebration of the five elements, harmony, and dancing Mother Earth.” – swaramountainartsfestival