Art with a purpose: Sixth Sense music festival kicks off to a spectacular start in Bengaluru
In this photo essay, we showcase a range of highlights from the Echoes of Earth music festival.
Launched in 2014, PhotoSparks is a weekly feature from YourStory, with photographs that celebrate the spirit of creativity and innovation. In the earlier 925 posts, we featured an art festival, cartoon gallery. world music festival, telecom expo, millets fair, climate change expo, wildlife conference, startup festival, Diwali rangoli, and jazz festival.
Regarded as India’s ‘greenest circular music festival’, Echoes of Earth kicked off its 2025 edition in Bengaluru this weekend. See our coverage of its two-day editions from 2023 and 2024 here.
“Our work has been recognised by global awards in circularity, sustainability, and conservation, reflecting the impact we have made so far. We are thrilled to take the festival to a bigger scale and welcome our community back to enjoy this experience once again,” festival founder and director Roshan Netalkar tells YourStory.
The stages with giant installations were appropriately named Red-Headed Vulture, Golden Silk Orb-Weaver Spider, and Mimic Octopus. With performances from 2 pm to 10 pm, the contrast from day to night was spectacular.
The Big Tree Solar Stage had 360° surround sound. The electronic, fusion and DJ artistes at the four venues, some of whom are featured in this photo essay, include Jatayu, Harvey Sutherland, The F16s, Sunju Hargun, and DJ Chris Tofu with Debbralee Wells.
“Together, we are creating a space where creativity flows as freely, consciously, and inclusively as the world we aspire to build,” says Pulkith Modi, General Manager- Marketing, International Brands at Pernod Ricard India, a festival partner.
In this photo essay, we also showcase some of the eye-catching installations on display, which were titled Trapdoor Spider, Peacock Mantis Shrimp, Gooty Tarantula, Seascape, Lion-Tailed Macaque, Elephant Family, Spider-Tailed Horned Viper, Immortal Jellyfish, Shark, The First Mushroom Farmers, and Flameback Woodpeckers.
The Nature Science Museum featured sessions on underground living networks, wildlife corridors, fungi intelligence, and microbe communication. There were other engagements on biomimicry, insect intelligence, and natural adaptation models.
“The theme of the festival, The Sixth Sense, is a powerful theme that reminds us that there is an intelligence in nature we can learn from. Through this collaboration, we are celebrating that connection and inviting people to unwind and rediscover their bond with the natural world,” adds Vineet Sharma, Vice President - Marketing & Trade Marketing, AB InBev India.
Workshops were held on wildlife stories (by Felis Films), face art (Anomalie Tattoos), merchandise printing (Itisu & Panic Press) and art walls (Kadence Xperience). Other hands-on sessions on Day One featured pottery wheels (Sthira Pottery), wood house painting (Rings of Redemption), and painting (Soul Innate).
“As the Conservation Knowledge Partner, we are excited to co-create immersive experiences that foster understanding, spark critical conversations, and inspire collective action to protect the planet’s rich biodiversity,” Kaveri Jain, Director – Marketing and Communications, WWF-India, signs off.
Now, what have you done today to pause in your busy schedule and harness your creative side for a better world?
(All photographs taken by Madanmohan Rao on location at Echoes of Earth 2025.)