Musical divinity in the desert

My first question to Divya Bhatia, the director of the Rajasthan International Folk Festival (RIFF), about the ‘special attractions’ one could hope to witness at the festival this year might be a clichéd, but relevant one. Perhaps, it riled him to promptly come with the answer, “Everything.” Many scribes must have asked him the same, I presumed. After a tentative smile he goes on explain that it’s not really something that should be asked of him. “To me, everything is special; every artiste performing this season is distinctively exceptional.”

As I search for a peg that would make my story interesting, Bhatia, who puts his heart and soul into organising the five-day-long musical event in Jodhpur, and may not be someone who would take criticism spiritedly, rattles off a long list of never-before events this year. But then, he is also someone who happens to be a one-man (well, almost!) show looking after each and every possible detail that makes RIFF a place where the brilliant musical experience ensures the continuation of the region’s musical heritage.

“One doesn’t really know much about what Rajasthan is all about,” argues Bhatia. “Either it’s Rajasthani food, or Rajasthani costumes that attract notice Other than these, may be some ghoomar. We have always followed a tradition of importing some of our prized forms of art far and wide — some even to offshore nations — and they have not only enriched our cultural bonding, but have embellished our own cultural roots too.”

For a decade now, RIFF in Jodhpur has been an international platform for the folk musicians of Rajasthan that also gives them an opportunity to showcase their amazing, generations-old repertoire. Among the festival’s delights are dawn concerts and the magic of the Desert Lounge at Rao Jodha Park, a fully moonlit, acoustic, midnight gala that goes on till the wee hours.

Started as an experiment, the Dessert Lounge has become a roaring success because of the natural setting. The festival concludes in style with RIFF Rustle — the largest impromptu collaboration of artists performing at the festival.

The festival introduces some exceptionally talented musicians and their audiences to incredible roots musicians from across the world, creating a personal experience. This results in a confluence that is a rare, mesmerizing treat for music aficionados – unlike any on the music festival in the country where over two-hundred fifty Rajasthani musicians and a hundred others from around the world participate. RIFF also provides an opportunity to witness rare Rajasthani folk instruments, meet and interact with legendary masters of the folk traditions and encounter some wonderful musicians at different cycles of the day – at dawn as also at dusk, where mood-appropriate partnerships make for a brilliant musical experience as musicians form different sensibilities jam uninhibitedly.

There are other reasons why the RIFF is touted to be one of the world’s most irresistibly enduring music festivals for artists and music fans alike, for, in this technology-driven era of cross-cultural communion there may be music festivals galore with many of them having their origins in the Asian Sub-Continent, but where would else you bathe in the vibrancy of five days of fun, sun, cool breeze and music with a stellar reputation for awesome, eclectic line-up of the finest in business, all at a single platform

Also, as you’d expect from a festival that has drawn comparison to Glastonbury Festival, there’s plenty of oddball, anarchic stuff happening away from the Kalbeliya dancers performing live to local kulhar chai being served at strategic points — not to mention the sumptuous Rajasthani spread that’s laid out — to name a few.

New Attractions: The RIFF, now in its 10th year and held in a majestic fort in the Blue City of Jodhpur, is one of the most intimate and innovative music festivals in India. Going way beyond the mud, acid and rock music clichés of traditional festivals, it produces one-of-a-kind multicultural performances by the finest folk musicians from around the globe. Also, since its mission is to unite, educate and inspire through culturally diverse programming, an eclectic mix of not only wide-ranging musicians but also a diverse range of listeners throng the ramparts of Jodhpur’s Mehrangarh Fort for the five-day celebration. There are some new aspects to the festival this year, such as storytelling and workshops.

Online bookings for festival passes opened from September 1 at www.jodhpurriff.org. An early bird discount of 20 per cent will be available till 21st September, 2016.

Highlights of the festival: The downtown area has been blocked off from traffic for free and open-air performances, where kids are always welcome.

Four living legends of Rajasthan Four legends of Rajasthani music will be presented in the RIFF’s special “Living Legends” series: Lakha Khan Mangainyar and Kadar Khan Langa (Sindhi sarangi and vocals), Pempa Khan Manganiyar (shehnai and murli) and Sawan Khan Manganiyar (Sufi). Much revered by their communities as well as musicians across Rajasthan and the world, these artists will present some of their best work.

Other performers include Chiranji Lalji and Shamsuddin, vocalist Anwar Khan Manganiyar, master musicians of the Kamaycha Ghewar and Darra Khan Manganiyar.

Jayateerth Mevundi One of the finest vocalists to emerge from the Kirana Gharana of Dharwar region, Mevundi is a master in the Santvaani (words of the saints) and Daasavani (words of the devotee) musical traditions of Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Sondorgo This fantastic band from the interiors of Hungary plays lesser known, traditional and popular tunes of the Serb-Croatian communities living along the Danube, coupled with gypsy and Balkan tracks from elsewhere. Not surprisingly, they play 17 instruments among them and styles of music that are hugely attractive, but little known and quite different to the traditional Hungarian repertoire.

Davy Sicard Originally from the remote island of La Reunion, but now based in France, Davy’s music is sourced from the Reunion is a folk form ‘Maloya’ which is a unique amalgamation of African slave chants and rhythms, unique traditional instruments, plus contemporary European instruments.

Robust A special featuring master percussionists of Rajasthan in collaboration with Ben Walsh, one of Australia’s most accomplished percussionists, is all set to enthrall. Walsh will collaborate with a dozen or more Rajasthani master percussionists on the dholak, the khartal, the morchang and the dhol.

Maru Tarang: Ripples of the desert This Australian-Rajasthani music collaboration features Jeff Lang (lap steel slide guitar, vocals) and Bobby Singh (tabla) from Australia; Asin Langa (sarangi, vocals) and Bhungar Manganiyar (khartal) from Rajasthan. The musicians will play Robert Johnson blues meets Rajasthani songs of love and loss.

Bixiga 70 in concert Bixiga 70 is one of the most widely sought-after groups in contemporary instrumental music in Brazil. These talented musicians together produce a contemporary sound that mixes Brazilian and African influences, including Samba, Reggae with a little electronica, carimbóand ethio-jazz. Fundamentally though it’s the horns that dictate the pace, and this is where Fela Kuti’s Yoruba influence is most obvious.