1.Ziro Festival, Arunachal Pradesh
The Ziro Festival of Music is an outdoor music festival held in the Ziro valley in the northeast Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. It showcases the independent music scene in India. The festival is spread over four days and is hosted by members of the Apatani people in Ziro.
WHEN: October 2018
WHERE: Ziro Valley, Arunachal Pradesh, India
How to reach: Fly straight to Guwahati airport from any major city in the country and then reach Ziro by road.
2. NH-7 Weekender (Multiple cities across India)
NH7 Weekender is an annual, multi-city music festival in India. the event is one of the largest music festivals in India, with an annual attendance across the editions of over 100,000. The festival is noted for its divergent artistic lineup and hosts a large number of established and emerging local artists alongside major international acts.
WHEN: Starts from October
WHERE: Meghalaya, Pune, Kolkata, Bangalore, Jaipur, Puducherry, Indore, Kochi, Goa, Hyderabad, Mysore
How to reach: All these places are well connected so you can directly reach there by flight or train or take a bus from the nearest city.
3. Magnetic Fields, Rajasthan
Magnetic Fields is held in Alsisar Mahal in Shekhawati, Rajasthan. It is a 3-day celebration. This festival takes place in December and has post party events in Mumbai and Pune. Besides the music festival, there are yoga sessions and workshops with artisans on how to make basic handcraft items.
WHEN: Mid-December (2018 Dates TBA)
WHERE: Rajasthan, India
How to reach: Shekhawati can be reached by road or train as it is well connected to major cities like New Delhi and Jaipur.
4. The Hornbill Festival, Nagaland
The Hornbill Festival is a celebration held every year from 1 - 10 December, in Nagaland, Northeast India. It is also called the 'Festival of Festivals'. This festival is a combination of music, art, dance and culture culminating in a magnificent rock contest between bands from all over the country.
WHEN: December 1- 10
WHERE: Kohima, Nagaland
How to reach: Fly straight to the nearest Airport of Dimapur which is 74km from Kohima City.
5. Storm, Bangalore
Summer Storm Festival is an annual music festival which takes place in Bangalore. It is said to be set in the lap of nature and features the best music artists and performers. They also have yoga sessions, music workshops on-the-go, camp-jams, bonfires, roasted marshmallows, multiple genres of music and so on.
WHEN: New Years Eve
WHERE: Bangalore, Karnataka
How to reach: Fly straight into Bangalore International Airport from various major cities across the country
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.