Kamal Ghorui
Mumbai became a living jukebox as Lollapalooza India returned with over 40 artistes, roaring crowds and genre-hopping sets. From Linkin Park to Yungblud, the festival offered a collective escape – experienced firsthand by Kolkata women who travelled for the music, memories & magic.
Emily Armstrong of Linkin Park at the festival
‘Lolla felt magical’There’s something quietly magical about being in a crowd of strangers who look out for you simply because you’re all drawn to the same music. For tech consultant Pooja Dasgupta, attending Lollapalooza solo highlighted how shared music can turn unfamiliar faces into quiet allies. “This was my second time at Lollapalooza and the experience was incredible,” she said. “I love the overall vibe; it’s one of the most meticulously organised festivals ever.” From being guided to the perfect spot near the stage to having a meal shared without a second thought, the kindness came in small, unexpected doses. “A man helped me find my place, someone else shared his food because I was eating alone, and a girl even offered to click my picture,” added Pooja. For Aishwarya Duttasharma, manager at an accounting company, friendships formed almost by accident. “I went with a group of people in which I only knew one person, and by the end of day two those people became friends. We danced and laughed, got lost, and cribbed about walking 10,000 steps just to reach the venue, but still no regrets.”“The festival has a unique way of bringing people closer. 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,” said PR Ausmita Sengupta.
Arundhati Roy, Jhankar Parakh and Saloni Arora
Style without rulesAt Lollapalooza, fashion meant owning your vibe. Pooja Dasgupta loved everyone at their stylish best, calling it an Indian Coachella, and recalled seeing someone wearing a Linkin Park sari. Jhankar Parakh saw outfits as personal extensions, while entrepreneur Saloni Arora celebrated the rare sight of emo and goth girls in all black who felt unapologetically themselves.
Pooja Dasgupta, Asihwarya Duttasharma with her riends and Ausmita Sengupta
Feeling safe, finally!For many, feeling safe allowed them to truly enjoy the festival. Stylist Jhankar Parakh said, “The crowd was respectful, and security was highly visible.” Ausmita echoed, saying, “People were respectful. Overall, I felt extremely safe and comfortable throughout the festival.”
Yungblud at Lollapalooza
The lessons…There were struggles, long walks, crowded exits, malfunctioning metro installations, and aching bodies after logging 60,000 steps in just two days. “The only challenging part was navigating the metro exit and the walk towards the Lollapalooza gate,” recalled Asmita. Yet, no one complained for long. Beneath the exhaustion lingered a heavier thought: why does this kind of festival magic happen elsewhere and not in Kolkata? “In comparison to concerts in Kolkata, it was much bigger in terms of both venue and audience. It was also better managed, just better managed in general,” said Arundhati. As Aishwarya explained, “Travelling to Mumbai for concerts has been a constant because global artists don’t usually come to Kolkata, given the lack of infrastructure. I need to keep visiting Mumbai for concerts to witness global artists representing different genres because Kolkata still has a long way to go in terms of attracting global artists and hosting them.” Still, the experience left its mark. “The freedom to be unapologetically yourself, whether it’s through music, fashion, or just living in the moment, that energy is something I brought back home with me,” said Jhankar.
