Living Legends: Folk Festival & Musical Heritage in Jodhpur

This October, the blue city of Jodhpur will be hosting its sixth annual Folk Festival, taking place in and around the impressive Mehrangarh Fort.

Performing artists and musicians from across India’s colorful state of Rajasthan will come together in this UNESCO endorsed event to share the music heritage of the region, all in a wonderfully rustic manner.

You may recall seeing this Rajasthan International Folk Festival – most popularly known as Jodhpur RIFF – on the BBC documentary series Imagine.

If you enjoyed the travelogue/music documentary The Dewarists in 2011 then we highly recommend that you visit this festival as it provides a similar platform for unique collaborations between local artists and the global music community. At Jodhpur RIFF though you can experience the music live with all your senses indulged! Last year it was the turn of international group Maru Tarang to be featured in the Jodhpur folk music festival.

Folk dance on a chess board in Jodhpur

(On that note, if you haven’t already, do listen to the inspiring collaboration between Bollywood music-director duo Vishal and Shekhar and Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Imogen Heap. Their song “Minds Without Fear” was inspired by the classical poem, ‘Where The Mind Is Without Fear’ by Rabindranath Tagore. You too can stay at the song’s recording location, the luxurious Samode Palace in Jaipur, which is part of our Enchanting Travels hotel collection.)

With His Highness HH Gaj Singh of Marwar-Jodhpur, and Mick Jagger as patrons, over 250 musicians will be present at Jodhpur RIFF and you can expect devotional music at dusk and dawn, world jazz by night and interactive music workshops throughout the day!

Songlines magazine has included Jodhpur RIFF in its list of 25 “Best International Festivals” for the last two years.

Mehrangarh Fort was voted “Asia’s Best Fortress” by Time Magazine in 2007, so expect this event be stored in your treasure chest of memories for years to come.