Songs of Snow

The Gulmarg Winter Festival 2012 aims to promote music,adventure sports and tourism in the state of Jammu & Kashmir.

Even as most Indian cities come to terms with the summer heat that has only just begun,Gulmarg, the folkloric as well as cinematic hill station,will celebrate its love for snow through music and adventure.

The Gulmarg Winter Festival 2012,a joint effort of event management company Soul Curators and adventure sports company Synapses Adventures,is scheduled to take place from March 9-11. Held in the outdoors with the Himalayas as backdrop,the three-day fest will feature bands such as The Raghu Dixit Project,Bombay Bassment and Chakra Vu,in addition to local acts. However,the festival isnt only about music. Adventure sports such as skiing,snowboarding and sledging will be a big part of the experience too.

The idea is to promote music,adventure sports and tourism for which Gulmarg is the best place, says Mandeep Dhillon,director of Synapses Adventures,which organised the Woods Talk Festival 2011 in Rishikesh that also focussed on white water rafting. There are apprehensions about it being in Kashmir,but thats a mindset were aiming to break with this festival, he adds.

This is the first edition of the festival and while Dhillon estimates an audience of 2,000,he believes the numbers could increase closer to date. Its peak season for tourism in Gulmarg,so were expecting a lot of tourists and locals,in addition to music enthusiasts from across the country, he says,adding,From next year onwards,were expecting to get bigger and better.

The festival is supported by Jammu & Kashmir Tourism and a three-day pass with access to all events will cost Rs 2,999.

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