It started off as a small gathering when Raktim Roy — who divides his time between Mumbai and Guwahati — organised a meet-up with others from the northeast near Gorai bridge in 2008, when he was still a full-time Mumbai resident. Since then, Roy has organised many musical nights featuring artis­tes from that part of the country. And this World Music Day, Hanghatik Northeast, the initiative he started, will celebrate 10 years of bringing together people from a little known part of India, with the aim of making sure they don't feel left out.

"It isn't a northe­ast-exclusive gig nor does it display every aspect of our culture. It's simply a night to promote talent from back home," Roy says. The organisation also helps northeastern people new to the city, and has held meetings with the Mumbai Police to ensure their safety. They had also organised protests after the killing of Nido Taniam, a youngster from Arunachal, in Delhi in 2014. But Hanghatik Northeast isn't as active today, which, in a way, bodes well for the community. "Racial discr­i­mination was at its peak in Mumbai in 2008. But today, it's not as bad. Also, there aren't too many people from the region here," he explains.