Mumbai Transforms Into Musical Epicenter as Lollapalooza India Returns
Mumbai transformed into a living, breathing jukebox as Lollapalooza India made its triumphant return, featuring over 40 international and domestic artistes, roaring crowds, and genre-hopping musical sets. From legendary acts like Linkin Park to contemporary stars like Yungblud, the festival offered a collective escape that drew music enthusiasts from across the country, including dedicated fans from Kolkata who traveled specifically for the music, memories, and undeniable magic.
The Magical Experience of Shared Music
There's something quietly magical about being in a massive crowd of strangers who instinctively look out for each other simply because everyone is drawn to the same powerful music. For tech consultant Pooja Dasgupta, attending Lollapalooza solo highlighted how shared musical passion can turn unfamiliar faces into quiet allies and temporary friends.
"This was my second time at Lollapalooza and the experience was absolutely incredible," she shared enthusiastically. "I love the overall vibe; it's one of the most meticulously organised festivals I've ever attended."
The kindness manifested in small, unexpected ways throughout the event:
- A helpful man guided her to the perfect spot near the stage
- Another attendee shared his food without hesitation when he noticed she was eating alone
- A fellow festival-goer even offered to click her pictures to capture the memories
For Aishwarya Duttasharma, a manager at an accounting company, friendships formed almost by accident through the shared experience. "I went with a group where I only knew one person initially, but by the end of day two, those people had become genuine friends," she explained. "We danced and laughed together, got lost in the crowd, and even complained about walking 10,000 steps just to reach the venue, but there were absolutely no regrets."
PR professional Ausmita Sengupta observed that "the festival has a unique way of bringing people closer together. The crowd felt genuinely invested in the music; there was no performative energy or 'wannabe' culture. People were present, passionate, and fully in tune with the vibe, which made the experience far more enjoyable and immersive."
Fashion Freedom: Style Without Rules
At Lollapalooza India, fashion meant owning your personal vibe completely. Pooja Dasgupta loved seeing everyone at their stylish best, describing the event as "an Indian version of Coachella" and recalling the memorable sight of someone wearing a custom Linkin Park sari.
Attendee Jhankar Parakh viewed festival outfits as personal extensions of identity, while entrepreneur Saloni Arora celebrated the rare sight of emo and goth girls dressed entirely in black who felt unapologetically themselves in the vibrant atmosphere.
Safety and Security: A Foundation for Enjoyment
For many attendees, feeling safe and secure allowed them to truly immerse themselves in the festival experience. Stylist Jhankar Parakh noted that "the crowd was consistently respectful, and security personnel were highly visible throughout the venue."
Ausmita Sengupta echoed this sentiment, stating, "People were genuinely respectful of each other's space. Overall, I felt extremely safe and comfortable throughout the entire festival duration."
Challenges and Lasting Impressions
The festival wasn't without its logistical challenges. Attendees faced long walks, crowded exits, occasional malfunctioning metro installations, and aching bodies after logging approximately 60,000 steps over just two days. "The only challenging part was navigating the metro exit and the extended walk toward the Lollapalooza entrance gate," recalled Asmita.
Yet, beneath the physical exhaustion lingered a more profound question for the Kolkata attendees: why doesn't this kind of festival magic happen more frequently in their home city? "In comparison to concerts in Kolkata, Lollapalooza was much bigger in terms of both venue scale and audience size. It was also better managed overall," observed attendee Arundhati.
Aishwarya Duttasharma explained the broader context: "Traveling to Mumbai for concerts has become a constant necessity because global artists don't usually come to Kolkata, primarily due to infrastructure limitations. I need to keep visiting Mumbai for concerts to witness global artists representing different genres because Kolkata still has a considerable distance to cover in terms of attracting international artists and hosting them properly."
Despite these reflections, the experience left an indelible mark on all who attended. "The freedom to be unapologetically yourself, whether through music choices, fashion expressions, or simply living completely in the moment—that transformative energy is something I brought back home with me," concluded Jhankar Parakh, capturing the essence of what made Lollapalooza India 2024 a truly memorable musical celebration.
