Jodhpur RIFF presents a wondrous morning of music, dance, storytelling and more for Jodhpur’s young ones, featuring:

Kachi Ghodi - A dance form, central to which is a colourful dummy-horse in which men in elaborate costumes dance rhythmically to beating drums, under a large umbrella Chhatar Kotla - while a singer narrates the exploits of the Bhavaria bandits of Shekhawati.

Bahrupiya - The artful, disguise specialist and performer par excellence – the ultimate con-man!

Kawa Circus - One of India's earliest Rajasthani circus featuring numerous traditional artists of Rajasthan

Jogi Kalbeliya Nritya – The Kalbeliya dance is probably the best known of all Rajasthani dance forms. Snake worshippers and charmers, the Jogi Kalbeliya are masters in everything to do with snakes – in fact, their dance moves are based entirely on the fluid movements of snakes.

Young musicians from the Langa community – The Langa are a professional musician community. They are either 'sarangiya' Langa, who can sing and simultaneously play the exquisite Sindhi sarangi - or the 'surnaiya' Langa, who play the algoza and other woodwind instruments. Trained by their 'ustad', the young, budding masters of the community will share their music and inspire school children as they continue to uphold the legacy of their forefathers.

Phad – an ancient form of folk painting, now slowly dwindling, will be presented along with the dramatic storytelling that accompanies the revelation of these scrolls.

Kavad – The enchanting world of kavad is where a beautifully illustrated box opens out like Alice’s wonderland telling stories both old and new. The storyteller or kavadiya bhat unfolds each panel, narrating mythological and historical stories with the music of the Kalbeliyas.

Chang Nritya – Native to the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan, this exclusively male dance will make you reverberate to the beats of the chang (daff drum), ghunghroo, manjira and bansuri. Watch the dancers make beautifully rhythmic patterns to the deep sounds of the chang.

Jodhpur RIFF's festivities will be kicked off by a two and a half hour variety program of traditional Rajasthani music, also featuring excerpts from our main stage performances and ending in a rousing finale with drummers and dancers.

The concert opens with Lakha Khan Manganiar, a legendary folk singer and sarangi maestro. Though the sarangi is not a traditional Manganiar instrument, he has put his own stamp on their traditional repertoire with his mastery of this instrument.

A group of talented young musicians from the Barmer and Jaisalmer districts will be performing next. They truly are Thar ke Sitaare. This group will present a short excerpt from a longer programme which will be featured in the Desert Lounge at Rao Jodha Park.

Shafi Sopori, a mesmerising Sufi singer from Kashmir, also featured in our Main Stage performances will be taking the stage as well some of our international artistes..

The finale will feature a special collaboration between a drum section with the dusha (traditional war drum) and the dhol (double sided drums) and a select few dance forms of Rajasthan such as the Chari, Jogi Kalbeliya and Agni Bhawai dancers.

The Meghwals of Marwar herald in the first dawn at Jodhpur RIFF, every year. Early in the day, a serene morning, the melodic drone of the 'Tandura', the beat of the Jhanjh/ Manjira (small-paired cymbals) and the rhythm of the Dholak create the mood for the meditative strains of the bhajans of the Meghwal community, sung in praise of their Guru/ saint Ram Dev ji. This year we have the exquisitely meditative and masterful Mahesha Ram, Bhallu Ram and Tamachi Ram singing the poetry of popular poets of their community and form Rajasthan.

Note : There will be free guided walks available in the Rao Jodha Desert park after each dawn concert.

Music of Kashmir

Drawing on its rich musical and Sufiyana heritage Shafi Sopori (a passionate, talented Kashmiri singer), Mohammed Muneem (singer-songwriter, poet and composer and frontman of folk punk group Alif) and melodious vocalist Vibha Saraf give us a glimpse of their love and experience of Kashmiri music. They will be talking about the different musical traditions of Kashmir and what it means to Kashmiris and how music creates the space for dialogues to happen when it is needed most.

Jodhpur RIFF's interactive session series give the audience a rare opportunity to meet fascinating artists from various root traditions.The sessions encourage visitors to engage with them and chat about various folk instruments, forms and communities through their performances, demonstrations and facilitated interactions. As more and more of Rajasthan's and India's rich traditional cultural heritage disappears Jodhpur RIFF puts the spotlight on some of our remarkable music forms and traditions nearing extinction.

Suguna Jogi (vocals)

Suguna Jogi hails from the village of Samrau, near Jodhpur. She belongs to the Jogi community, who have traditionally been experts on snakes, their handling, capture and care. This is the community from which the popular Kalbeliya dance form comes and she is one of the senior-most custodians of the vocal traditions that accompany the dance. Suguna ji is among the last few people alive who remember the ancient musical forms that are sung before the dancers begin to perform. Inspite of setbacks in her personal life, Suguna ji continues to perform across the globe with passion and verve. She has a charming but powerful presence and her voice is as unique as the art form she keeps alive.

Dapu Khan (kamaicha)

Dapu Khan ji is an stalwart of the kamaicha. Hailing from the village of Bhadli, near Jaisalmer he has been a regular presence at the Queen’s Palace in Jaisalmer fort for the last three decades. He comes from the Miraasi community, who believe they are descended from the Gandharva musicians who performed in Indra’s court. Dapu ji was taught to play the kamaicha along by his father. The story goes that the entire neighbourhood would come to a standstill when the young Dapu played in the evenings. From there he has gone on to continue to learn about the instrument as well as his musical lineage as well as teach it to his son and nephews and others who want to learn to keep this instrument alive. He has enthralled audiences from all over the world at Jaisalmer fort. He has won the admiration and patronage of the Jaisalmer royal family, the Rajasthan Tourism board and many others for his skill and dedication to his heritage.

In its present form, the Kamaicha has 10-17 strings and is played with a bow. A typical Kamaicha is made of mango wood, its rounded resonator ‘tumba’ is covered with goatskin. The playing strings (3-4) are made of goat intestine -‘roda’ and ‘joda’ while the other 14 sympathetic strings are made of steel, called ‘jhara’. The Kamaicha is different from its Iranian counterpart called ‘Kamanche’ (a spiked fiddle with a smaller body and no resonant strings). The Kamaicha’s bow is prepared from ‘Khejari’ wood and horse tail hair. Occasionally, small bells (ghungroo) are attached to the bow to produce a rhythmic jingle along with the notes.

Music of the Kalbeliyas with Mohini Devi

Mohini Devi will open the Main Stage performances of this year’s festival with a presentation of traditional Jogi (also known as the Jogi Kalbeliyas) music. Mohini ji is an enthralling singer who hails from the Jogi community in Daijar, near Mandore. She is one of the few female singers left who carries on what used to be a robust musical tradition in the community. The women of the gypsy-like Jogi community used to sing along with the serpents the community is famous for handling. When the practice of catching and raising snakes were outlawed under wildlife preservation laws the women slowly began dancing to represent the snakes that were an integral part of their culture. Over time the Kalbeliya dance form has overshadowed the musical traditions of the Jogis with only a few women left who remember and perform these disappearing songs. What is also a remarkable is that not many women vocalists can match the high pitch of the been (pungi), the reed-like instrument which is a hallmark of the Jogi Kalbeliya the way Mohini ji can. Her astoundingly unique voice and passionate presence make for a wonderful performer.

Makan Ashgvari

Makan Ashgvari refuses to be categorized. A singer-songwriter, actor, director and teacher living and working in Tehran. His sound is as eclectic as his passions – combining electronica with spoken word, jazz and pop, he takes his audiences on a journey as personal as it is communal. He puts the Persian sounds of his heritage (the poetry, music, folk forms and instruments) into frame that evokes his own modern day experiences of growing up in Teheran. He has been performing with rock bands such as Dash, with the jazz band Naima and with the independent experimental music band Bomrani. He has worked with theatre directors such as Sajad Afsharian and Hamid Pourazari and directed his own theater productions with musicians and actors.

Kashmiri Sufiyana with Shafi Sopori

Shafi Sopori is a dynamic and mesmerising Sufi singer from Sopore, Kashmir. His passion for music sustained him through a turbulent and financially precarious childhood. His talent was recognised but the opportunities to further them were few and far between. By dint of sheer passion and hard work he is known today as one of the finest Sufi singers from Kashmir. His penchant for Kashmiri folk and Sufi gayaki combined with his mesmeric swaying and enthusiasm during his performances make him a delight to listen to and watch.

Jodhpur RIFF presents 'Desert Lounge' in the Rao Jodha Desert Park, just outside the Mehrangarh Fort… an unusual, acoustic, moon-lit rustic experience under the stars with musicians in this stark yet beautiful environment - Sumitra Das and artists of Mehfil-e-Thar bring the night alive.

The night begins with vocalist Sumitra, a hugely popular singer who specialises in bhajan sangeet and other forms of traditional Rajasthani music. She's been featured at JRIFF and other festivals in India and abroad and has collaborated with spectacular composers and performers like Ram Sampath. Her husky alto and powerful throw will create a magical ambience under the moonlit desert night.

She will be followed by Mehfil-e-Thar where a motley group of extremely talented artistes from the Barmer and Jaisalmer districts will present a rare repertoire of songs on nature, changing seasons, love and the events and celebrations that mark important milestones in the lives of desert dwellers. It will be a rare glimpse into the way music and life are so highly integrated in these communities.

Please note: The meeting point for the Desert Lounge for all audience is in the Mehrangarh Fort lower car park at 10.45 pm or at the entrance to the Rao Jodha Park at 11.00 pm. The walk to and from the performance space is approximately 10-15 minutes from the lower car park: first on the road to the Rao Jodha Park entrance (5 minutes) and then in the park itself (5-8 minutes) – so please wear decent shoes for walking!
Please carry something warm (it gets chilly); hot drinks & light refreshments are available for purchase.
As the music is acoustic (non-amplified) and the space is intimate, any noise might make it hard to hear vocalists and distract fellow audience members. We would greatly appreciate it if the audience refrained from chatting and speaking on phones during the performance. You could step away from the seating area to do so.

Hidayat Husain Khan is the youngest son of Ustad Vilayat Khan and has music in his blood. His is a rare musical brilliance that allows him to effortlessly cross musical genres and styles. An exquisite sitar player and vocalist well-versed in the ‘Gayaki ang’, a unique rendition where voice blends with the instrument, Hidayat Husain Khan carries the torch of a coveted lineage spanning seven generations of outstanding vocal and instrumental court musicians.

The legend of Meera Bai and Rajasthan are deeply connected. What kind of a connection is it? How have the oral and musical traditions of Rajasthan and india been influenced by Meera and vice versa? How have different communities in Rajasthan brought Meera into their musical and historical traditions?

These questions and more will be explored by artistes from the Meghwal, Manganiar and Kamad communities (among others) in conversation with renowned folklorist Padma Shri C.P. Dewal.

Manesha Agarwal (vocals)

Accomplished Jaipur-based vocalist Manesha Agrawal returns to Jodhpur RIFF (last seen in our first festival in 2007) serenading us under the rising moon with songs of love, longing and celebration in the traditional maand gayaki.. This is a classical style of Rajasthani music similar to the thumri or dadra. Manesha’s sound training in both Hindustani and maand make her performances an auditory treat for the listener.

The Legendary music of the Langa

Every year JRIFF has attempted to showcase the particular musical traditions of one of the diverse communities of Rajasthan. This year we bring together the most senior and respected maestros from the Langa community, for a performance resplendent with their virtuosity, talent and passion - in rtheir epertoire and in their instrumental prowess. The Langa are a community of professional musicians trained as genealogists and singers, playing the inimitable Sindhi Sarangi (a unique stringed instrument) and wind instruments such as the algoza, murli, etc. The programme features the legendary Kader Khan Langa on the Sindhi Sarangi and vocals, Nek Mohammed Langa and Bundu Khan Langa on vocals, Noor Mohammed Langa on the Sindhi Sarangi, Meherdeen Langa on the Sindhi Sarangi, Murli and Sataara and Asgar Khan Langa on vocals and harmonium. These veterans will be joined by promising young artists from the Langa community as well.

Ana Pinhal (vocals)

All the way from Portugal, Ana Pinhal brings to India the sweetly melancholic repertoire of the fado. Fado is an oral tradition of music from Portugal which is usually characterised by longing and sadness. It is an intense experience that draws the listener into the inner world of the singer and the story. Ana is a renowned fadista who brings her wide experience and passion for this art form, with additional experience in a variety of other forms… as a trained Bossa Nova singer and later as backing vocals for Boite Zuleika, a band based in Porto; as a co-founder with Francisco Almeida (flamenco guitar) on the Fado Violado project - a project that intertwines fado and Flamenco.

Wouter Kellerman

Winner of many South African Music Awards and a two-time Grammy nominee and winner in 2016, world renowned flautist and music composer, Wouter Kellerman performs with his band at Jodhpur RIFF 2018, consolidating his collaboration with young Rajasthani artists that began three years ago. Kellerman has focused his attention on roots, world and jazz music, exploring the versatility of his instrument and drawing from the deep tribal and folk traditions of Africa, fusing them with classical and contemporary sounds. He will be joined by Dharra Khan on the kamaicha, Bhutta Khan on vocals, Zakir Khan on khartals, Shakur Khan on the algoza and morchang, Idu Langa on the algoza and Papa Mir on the dholak.

Alif

Alif - the first letter of the Arabic Urdu script, signifying oneness, the mystical and the unseen. These are some of the interpretations the band brings forth in their poetry and sound. Based in Pune and founded by Mohammed Muneem, this is a band that brings lived experience to the stage. Muneem is a vocalist, poet, an MBA and artiste from Kashmir. Deeply influenced by the folk music of Kashmir, he is the inspiration for the band and its sound-both soothing and haunting. Formed in 2008, Alif's poetry and music is relevant and bold. When masterfully blended with Alif’s distinctive genre-defying contemporary and ethnic sound, the experience is profound.
Winner of numerous awards (IRRA award "Best Music Production" for Like a Sufi; Winner of the Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival 2018's "Best Music Video" for Lalnawath) Alif is an experience that both stirs and stills the soul- and ultimately, sets you free. Muneem is joined by Hardik Vaghela​ on keyboards, Chaitanya Bhaidkar​ on guitars, Karan Chitra Deshmukh​ on percussion and Amit Gadgil​ on bass.

Entry for full festival or day pass holders only

Jose Marquez (latin and Afro-beat inspired electronic world rhythms)

Jodhpur RIFF is honoured to present Jose Marquez's India festival premiere appearance at Club Mehran. Los Angeles DJ/Producer Jose Marquez’s musical influence is a result of being brought up on a stable diet of Latin and World Music. Always intrigued by electronic sounds, Jose's mission has been to fuse his love of world rhythms with the dance floor. Jose indeed succeeded when he burst onto the scene in 2010 with memorable remixes & edits of artists such as Celia Cruz, Nina Simone, Oumou Sangare and many others. Since then, he continues to travel the globe uniting nations on the dance floor with his signature sound performing at major clubs and events such as Djoon (Paris), Global Fantasy (Athens), Solid Garage (Toronto), DEEP (Los Angeles), Crossroads (NYC), etc. He is a groovy, in-the-pocket, make-you-move DJ!

Pempe Khan will be starting this unique dawn concert with the plaintive notes of the surnai welcoming us to the morning. This maestro has enthralled audiences at RIFF for many years and will be featured in a premiere solo performance. This will be followed by a unique jugalbandi between the young ustads Asin Khan Langa on the Sindhi Sarangi and Dharra Khan Manganiyar on the kamaicha. This is the first time such a focussed collaboration has taken place and they will be singing and playing devotional music from both communities traditionally used to greet the dawn such as prabhaati, heli, fakiri and bhajans along with Talab Khan on vocals and Firoz Khan on dholak, and will deliver the saar or essence of their folk traditions.

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