April 17, 2025e-Paper
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April 17, 2025e-Paper
Updated – April 17, 2025 06:01 pm IST
Manganiyar musicians performing at RIFF Dawn at Jaswant Thada in Jodhpur | Photo Credit: Courtesy: RIFF
“Thankfully, I made it to this festival. I have been to Jodhpur earlier but never got to see this gorgeous white marble cenotaph,” says Christine from Germany as we stand on the terrace of Jaswant Thada on a chill October morning. It is a perfect vantage point to view Jodhpur, splashed with hues of indigo.
Built in memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh ll, the grand mausoleum is where generations of Rathore rulers have been laid to rest. Its distinct architecture, a synthesis of Rajputana and Mughal styles, appears striking in the stark desert landscape. Often referred to as ‘Taj Mahal’ of Marwar, it is the venue of RIFF’s (Rajasthan International Folk Festival) Dawn concerts and is located a few hundred yards from the imposing Mehrangarh Fort, the main stage of the festival.
After the concert, as we walk around the lush green lawns bordering Jaswant Thada, Christine explains how she has been discovering India’s monumental heritage through music and dance festivals. Indeed, what better way to turn the world’s attention to these significant reminders of the country’s history!
“We have taken music back to where their journey began — the royal courts. An environment that nourished arts. In the process, we have revived people’s interest in heritage and history. When Jodhpur RIFF was launched 17 years ago, it was not just about organising concerts, it was about curating an experience. Today, under the aegis of the Mehrangarh Museum Trust, it has become a significant platform for roots music and global collaborations. The audience footfalls have been sharply increasing each year. This not only augurs well for RIFF but also for our effort in preserving and popularising the heritage of the region,” says Divya Bhatia, director and curator of the festival.
Alsisar Mahal that turns into a performance space for the Magnetic Fields Festival | Photo Credit: Parikshit Deshpande
The Mehrangarh Fort also plays host to the annual Sacred Spirit Festival, held in February. In fact, many of Rajasthan’s magnificent monuments transform into performance arenas during specially curated music festivals.
Says Sarah Chawla, co-founder and director of Magnetic Fields Festival (held in December), “Such events bring together like-minded people to celebrate culture, and they are also places of discovery and exploration.”
The festival venue, the 17th century Alsisar Mahal (a battle-hardened fort) in Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu district, gives its guests a peek into the glorious past of the Shekhawat dynasty, along with music. “What we are trying to do is showcase Indian heritage in the best possible way, even as we reflect on the country’s contemporary cultural landscape and present cutting-edge global artistes from underground music cultures. During the festival, the desert converts into a sprawling township complete with accommodation for nearly 4,000 visitors,” says Sarah.
Two other states that have successfully taken the cultural festival route to heritage conservation are Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.
Sharanya Chandran performing at Khajuraho Dance Festival | Photo Credit: A. M .Faruqui
From the 100-year-old Tansen Music Festival and the 51-year-old Khajuraho Dance Festival to the 50-year-old Ustad Allauddin Khan Samaroh at Maihar, Madhya Pradesh’s Department of Culture has been working to lend vibrancy to these events. While the Tansen Festival takes place near the legendary musician’s tomb at Behat village in Gwalior district, the Khajuraho dance festival is held against the backdrop of the historic temples. Built by the Chandela dynasty, the temples are known for their intricate sculptures and architectural splendour. The State’s Tourism Department also holds the Orchha Festival — a convergence of folk and classical arts, craft and cuisine. It is held in the historic town of Orchha, dotted with stunning palaces.
Says N.P. Namdev, director, Department of Culture, Madhya Pradesh, “The tourist inflow is at its peak in these places of heritage interest during the festivals. At Khajuraho, each year, hotels get booked months ahead of the festival. Our primary aim is to showcase heritage and, over the years, we have realised how our classical and folk arts have served this purpose wonderfully.”
Dhauli-Kalinga Mahotsav, held at the foothills of Dhauli, celebrates both classical and folk dance forms | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Odisha has been celebrating its heritage through a formidable line-up of festivals. The Konark Dance Festival, launched in 1986, is held in an open-air space overlooking the 13th century Sun Temple. It also hosts near Bhubaneswar, the Raja Rani Festival of Music and the Mukteshwar Odissi Dance Festival. Both are held in ancient temples by the same names. The Dhauli-Kalinga Mahotsav, a collage of classical and martial art forms, is held at the foothills of Dhauli, a symbol of Buddhist legacy in Odisha.
According to Biswajit Routray, additional director, Odisha Tourism, “Apart from helping us promote heritage tourism, these festivals have boosted the economy of the small towns that hosts them. Since locals have begun to understand the significance of tourists, community engagement is helping us maintain these monuments. It’s an ideal packaging, where one helps the other thrive.”
Sunder Nursery in Delhi houses six 16th-century tomb-parks | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The term ‘heritage’ is not limited to monuments, it can include parks too. Delhi’s Sunder Nursery (known as Bagh-e-Azeem during the Mughal era) is one such. A popular venue today for music and theatre fests, it is spread over 90 acres and houses six 16th century tomb-gardens.
The art-heritage model has not been able to make inroads into Southern India. Very few cultural festivals are organised at heritage spaces. Karnataka’s Hampi Festival and Tamil Nadu’s Mamallapuram Festival are exceptions. While the former stages diverse art forms amidst historical ruins, the Mamallapuram Dance Festival is held near the Shore Temple, a Pallava period monument, between December and January, the only time when the region experiences pleasant weather. But this is also when the globally popular Margazhi festival is held in nearby Chennai and, therefore, there is a lack of public patronage for the Mamallapuram fest.
Despite the challenges, culture departments, festival curators and heritage conservationists remain hopeful and are drawing up innovative ideas to keep the curiosity about the past alive.
Chidambara Vilas palace in Chettinad | Photo Credit: M. Moorthy
Destination Tamil Nadu
The Chettinad Heritage and Cultural Festival is aiming to be a game changer down South. Launched three years ago, the four-day event combines architecture, food and the arts to draw visitors to this ancient preserve of the Chettiars. Says Yacob George, the festival director and general manager, The Bangala: “We realised we needed to do something to project the heritage of the town known for its grand mansions that seamlessly blend native design elements and art deco influences. It is a collaborative effort, with a special committee curating the programme. Much of the inputs comes from Aachi (Meenakshi Meyyappan). Going by the response, we hope to replicate this at a few other historically significant towns in the State.”
Published – April 17, 2025 05:47 pm IST
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On World Heritage Day looking at how music and dance festivals celebrate heritage at stunning venues – The Hindu
