Fireflies festival in pictures
The annual event formerly known as Bhoomi Jathre was staged last Saturday. It was easily the best yet. I stayed all night, took lots of pictures, and made enough of a spectacle of myself that I may be the official photographer next year.

These pictures are not a representative set; they are simply the ones I liked most. Not all groups are included here. For the artists who asked for pictures, I’ll be mailing them out soon. For those who didn’t ask but would like them, please give me your group name and email address.

I made an entry for the event on Wikipedia. It needs working on.






Dollu Kunitha kicked off the evening with their high energy drumming and acrobatics. Those drums are strong enough to build a three-tier human pyramid on.




When the band finished, they drummed their way through the audience. Several got up and followed them into the courtyard, where they continued to drum while the next band set up.


It’s remarkable how “uncle” can even stand, let alone play so passionately.




Red light either completely messes up your pictures, or creates psychedelic effects.


Geetha Navale, co-organiser. I’m not sure why previous organisers Kirtana and Konark Reddy were missing this year.


The Digideroo makes a strange sound.


Oikyotaan was easily the funkiest band of the evening. Even if they played no funk.


They were into it totally.


And they had the pulse of the audience.


The percussionists in the corner are easily missed out.


I’m told the mouth harp is a dangerous instrument. You can slice your tongue if you’re careless.




Bharat Sargam Qawwali matched Oikyotaan for energy without even having to stand up.


The fellow at left, whose name I can’t recall, is a former resident of Fireflies and now writes for Deccan Herald. He suggested I turn my camera on the audience occasionally. I’m glad I did.




Anugraha John from Fireflies (centre) asked for this picture. I wasn’t going to share it, but I loved the mood.




Prakash Sontakke was totally focused.


Sumathi Murthy’s pained expressions made me go click-click-click.


The light will be out soon.


Here comes dawn.


With the light materialised that glorious backdrop.


The Raghu Dixit Project played to daylight. Two other bands followed them.