Ziro Valley in Arunachal set to reverberate with music

The second edition of Ziro Festival of Music in Arunachal Pradesh will see film screenings and discussions, besides music from over 20 Indian bands, authorities said.

The festival will see prominent bands from different parts of the country congregate in Arunachal Pradesh. Significantly, this year, the festival will also mark the India debut of American alternative rock band Sonic Youth's guitarist-vocalist Lee Ranaldo and drummer Steve Shelley.

The festival is scheduled to be held Sep 20-22, a statement released by the state tourism department said.

From the Whirling Kalapas to Menwhopause, and Sky Rabbit to Shaa'ir + Func, the music will represent bands from northeast India like Digital Suicide too. Dayglocrazie Polar Lights, Purple Fusion Frisky Pints and a few other bands are set to perform in the Himalayan state.

The festival was launched with the intention of using music to bind the states of the northeast more closely with mainland India. Music transcends boundaries and melts away hatred.

The state government supports the festival, which now features in its annual calendar of cultural activities.

"This festival will be made an annual event in the ministry of tourism calendar. Ziro is one of the most beautiful valleys in Arunachal and this festival will help in making it a perfect tourist destination," Pema Khandu, tourism minister of the state, said in the statement.

A screening of films celebrating the diversity of the northeast will also be held.

Aspects of the culture of the region, like the tapu war dance, the lion dance, buya dance, paku littu dance, damin da dance, and bamboo and Naga dances will feature in the film festival.