Hornbill Festival 2017

I should start this post with a hashtag 'latergram' . Yes, about 9 months late. But I figured at least this year's event has not started yet.

Last year's trip to India was awesome, to say the least. I met my family after many years, and we had some killer holidays to Kohima and Darjeeling. I got busy with my sketchbook quite a bit and was happy with the output.

Thanks to my brother, we were privy to a government guesthouse on top of a hill, surrounded by hills. The Jafpu ranges, to be particular. The ombre shades of blue, brown and green were a treat to the eyes. The sketchbook was out soon enough and I tried capturing some fleeting hilly moments on it.

The festival was unlike anything I could have imagined. Dozens of women and men in the most exotic costumes were all around. Clothes and jewelry made out of feathers, beads, leather and loom woven. The headgears were so eye catching. On the main arena, there was a dance competition happening. There were no loudspeakers. Just singing voices, drum beats and dancing feet.

As the dancers sat waiting for their turn to perform on stage, I drew some portraits. Not their faces, mind you ( I'm still not there yet), but their outfits. Put together with leather, feathers, cowrie shells, bamboo cane and cloth, they were a treat to the eyes. I drew a Chang tribal man.

Chang tribal man

Ao tribal man

The main arena was packed full of spectators and performers, more young than old. There were lots of enthusiastic clapping and sniggers and comments and giggles as well. Sketching with a four year old has it's own charms 😐

The main arena

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