IYCN, along with SEEDS India organized a music concert on the 5th and 6th Dec, 2009 at Qila Rai Pithora ( a historical site under the Archeological Survey of India). The concert highlighted the fact that climate change is a pressing challenge that is of urgent importance and consequence to the world and thus needs immediate attention.
The morning of the concert kick started with a clean-up drive at Qutub Minar under the ‘Adopt a heritage program’ of the archeological survey of India. The participants took an oath to maintain the beauty of similar historic monuments by keeping them clean and not destroying their original structure.
The concert began with the MC Gaurav Kapur of ‘Channel V’, taking over the stage and with a sense clever wit and of humor he brought to light the atrocities faced by the millions of communities across the nation who were facing the devastating effects of climate change and stressed the need for urgent action.
The 1st band that performed was a death metal band, ‘X-Mantra’ from Nepal followed by ‘Groove Adda’ that made Qila Rai Pithora dance on some popular numbers. ‘Sarangi Funk’ was a soft rock band with a twist of saarangi and jugalbandi between sarangi and guitars. An exhilarating choreography by the ‘Big Dance’ group of HansRajCollege followed Saarangi Funk. The last band, ‘Indian Ocean’, was the highlight of the evening and they sure did live up to their reputation.
On the 2nd day, the stage was once again set ablaze with bands such as Ankur Tewari and the ‘Ghalat Family’, followed by ‘Advaita’, ‘Bandish’ (a part of animal right activists) and Mohit Chauhan. While Advaita dedicated songs like Ghir-Ghir, Dhoom Tena and Miliha to the nature, Mohit Chauhan’s presence on the stage kept the audience swaying to his romantic numbers.
Apart from all the fun and frolic that the two days of the concert offered, the message of taking action against climate change was the central theme throughout the event. A photo exhibition depicting the devastating effects of climate change was displayed at the concert venue which touched, moved and inspired them as they became inquisitive about the issue.
Another stall put up by KyotoUniversity quizzed the people on their awareness about the causes and impacts of climate change.
The concert was not only about the band performances but also our responsibility towards nature which was made conspicuous through slogans and signature writing campaign organized by Greenpeace.
An activist dressed up as a penguin (symbolizing the fatal effects of climate change) was an added attraction.