Mumbai Welcomes Echoes Of Earth: Celebrating The Symphony Of Seasons

The award-winning music festival, Echoes of Earth, enthralled Mumbaikers with its showcase in the city of dreams this Sunday, 17th November, at Anti-Social. The festival was staged in the heart of the city to celebrate the rich local biodiversity and unique ecosystems of Mumbai.

The evening opened with Nature’s Symphony: A Year in Colour, a captivating visual showcase by National Geographic Explorer and renowned wildlife photographer Aishwarya Sridhar. Through her lens, the audience journeyed through Mumbai’s seasonal transformations, from migratory birds to dynamic landscapes, celebrating the delicate balance of its ecosystems and inspiring their preservation.

Aishwarya Sridhar quoted "A single image, a fleeting moment captured in the wild, can speak louder than a thousand words. It has the ability to transport us into the heart of nature, making distant ecosystems feel immediate, personal, and real. In an era where we're more disconnected from our environment than ever, these visuals are vital. They cut through the noise, stirring emotion and empathy, and urging us to act—not tomorrow, but today. The time to care for our planet is now, and it begins with recognizing the beauty and fragility of the world around us. It's no longer enough to focus on far-off rainforests or endangered species in other countries; the fight to protect and conserve starts in our own backyards, in the communities and landscapes we inhabit. Through storytelling, we can foster a collective sense of responsibility and inspire people to protect not just faraway wildernesses, but the immediate neighborhoods we call home. Each season is a reminder to us that every species forms an integral part of the web of life and the colours of mother nature remind us that every hue enriches the fabric of our life. We share our planet with over 13 million species and our actions—both large and small—will shape the future. Each and every one of us can make a difference and contribute towards a better and greener world’’

Following the visual showcase, attendees participated in an insightful panel discussion, Welcoming Winged Visitors: Protecting Migratory Birds in Mumbai through Sustainable Action. Curated by our Conservation Knowledge Partner, WWF-India, the panel shed light on the challenges migratory birds face during their annual journey to Mumbai and the importance of safeguarding their habitats. Through its collaboration with music festivals like Echoes of Earth, WWF-India has created a unique platform that leverages the power of art and music to raise awareness about environmental conservation. This collaboration emphasizes how essential it is to maintain ecological balance, ensuring that all species, including migratory birds, can thrive in a sustainable world.

The session highlighted the ecological significance of these birds, their role in maintaining balance, and the interconnectedness of ecosystems through their migration patterns. It called for collective responsibility and collaboration among communities to ensure the protection of these winged visitors. The panel featured experts such as Kenneth Lawrence, wildlife filmmaker and photographer; Caroline Pais, Assistant Manager at WWF-India Mumbai and Sahir Doshi, nature educator. Freishia Bomanbehram, award-winning master of ceremonies and founder of Carter Cleanup, moderated the panel.

Kenneth Lawrence shared, “Echoes of Earth is a fantastic space where seasoned wildlife lovers and budding nature enthusiasts come together. Mumbai's migratory and resident birds were a much needed topic of discussion and it was an honour to be part of the panel. I look forward to many more evenings like these where conservation meets art and great music”

Sahir Doshi added, “It was great to see so many people spotlighting local wildlife through their different lenses, literal and metaphorical. People will fight to conserve only what they know and love and take pride in as their own, so glad that WWF-India, Echoes and all the co-panelists are making that happen. We do it for the birds, we do it for the earth, we do it for our own selves.”

Freishia also added, "The session was a reminder that we are part of a greater harmony—a work of art crafted by our planet. At Carter Cleanup, we have always advocated for sustainable living, and the panel truly underscored the interconnectedness between humans and nature. The bustling metropolis of Mumbai is home to so many migratory birds, and it’s heartening to see how our feathered friends thrive in the urban jungle."

The evening began with a musical performance by Many Roots Ensemble and reached its crescendo with an enchanting set by Vieux Farka Touré, often hailed as the "Hendrix of the Sahara." Renowned for his masterful fusion of traditional African music with modern jazz and blues, Touré took the audience on an unforgettable auditory journey. His performance seamlessly intertwined the soulful rhythms of Mali with the improvisational spirit of jazz, creating a unique soundscape that deeply resonated with the festival's themes of harmony and connection.