The art of dusking: Why everyone’s staying after the sunset

Watching a sunset is hardly a new ritual. But this summer, as temperatures soar, European creators are shifting the spotlight from the golden hour to what comes after it. Videos captioned “POV: You stayed after the sun went down” are finding traction on social media.

That post-sunset pause is at the heart of dusking, a wellness and travel trend that encourages people to step outside at sunset and stay a little longer, simply observing the sky as daylight fades and evening settles in. For Indian audiences, especially during peak summer, dusking can be less about chasing a perfect view and more about reclaiming a cooler, calmer part of the day.

The Dutch ritual making a comeback

While dusking is gaining attention on social media, the ritual itself is far from new. The practice traces its roots to the Netherlands, where it is known as ‘schemeren’. Traditionally, farming families would gather at the end of the working day and sit together as daylight faded. Before lamps were lit and dinner was served, they simply paused. By the 1960s and ’70s, however, modern life and artificial lighting had largely pushed the ritual into obscurity. Dutch poet and author Marjolijn van Heemstra helped revive interest in the custom earlier this year after researching its history and writing about it, later organising public schemeren sessions.

In India, the movement is still in its early stages, but it is slowly gaining attention, as travel and wellness brands have begun spotlighting dusking on social media.

He adds, “The gradual shift from daylight to evening signals the body and mind that it is time to slow down. Exposure to the changing natural light provides cues to the body’s circadian rhythm, which regulates the sleep-wake cycle. Additionally, observing the changing colours of the sky and quieter surroundings encourages mindfulness and helps people mentally separate from the pressures of the day. By contrast, late-night screen use can keep the brain stimulated while blue light suppresses melatonin production, making it harder to fall asleep and affecting sleep quality.”

India’s varied landscapes offer plenty of settings to embrace dusking, too. Ravi Gosain, President, Indian Association of Tour Operators says, “Coastal destinations like Goa, Gokarna (Karnataka) and the Andaman Islands offer uninterrupted horizons where you can watch the colours linger long after sunset. In the mountains, places such as Munnar (Kerala), Coorg (Karnataka) and the Himalayan regions around Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand provide expansive skies. Desert landscapes like the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat are equally magical. The ghats of Varanasi (UP) also blend the changing evening sky with a deeply spiritual atmosphere.”

He adds that given that dusking can be practised almost anywhere, which makes it a natural fit for modern wellness travel. “Travellers today are increasingly looking for experiences that help them slow down rather than simply tick destinations off a list. Dusking taps into that shift,” he says.