Ground Ziro

Vast open rice fields all around a tiny elevated piece of heaven. A green sky beneath our feet and a clear blue one above. Pure air in between, clean as white clouds seen from an airplane window. The people - young, bohemian, some looking to escape, some to impress, most to seek and discover. The easy sound of guitars waltzing with the breeze.
Rice beer and wine served in bamboo glasses. Light on the head, heavy on the spirit. Travelling from the sun soaked fields of Punjab to the rain drenched hills of Meghalaya on the wings of a song.
Gum boots and bamboo huts and airborne photographers. Apple cheeked and innocent eyed school kids wearing colours of the sky, ambling by. Up and down a hillock of grass.
The Apatani people - friendly, wearing shy, honest smiles. Humbling the outsiders with their hospitality.
Night - bonfire, guitar and guttural sounds mixing in the mist. Laughter, new friends, old songs, new meanings. Prem baba and chacha galibh flying kites in a starry sky.
Tents and sleeping bags and musical dreams.
The morning after - more of the above.
A festival for saints, seekers and memory keepers.  Addictive.
Banao banao banao banao...right now!