Folk at the fort
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Folk artistes will perform with popular artistes at the Rajasthan International Folk Festival. MANGALA RAMAMOORTHY
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Mehrangarh fort
Taking pride in your culture and heritage is one thing, and working towards developing the same is another. Only a few organisations like Jaipur Virasat Foundation (JVF) actually get to the grassroots and help the locals take their art to the world.
JVF brought together the private sector, the government and the citizen to create a sustainable tool for development of artisans and performing artistes from various towns and villages in that state. “It’s one of the few states in our country, which hasn’t let modernisation take away its tradition. But the talented artistes and craftsmen needed a platform where they can showcase their skills,” explains Mahavir Pratap Sharma, the city director.
And this thought gave birth to the Rajasthan International Folk Festival (RIFF). This event is an effort to popularise folk music by collaborating with well-known national and international artistes to create a music that’s unique. “It is not a jamming session but a conscious effort to create new music. There’s so much musical diversity within the state and through this programme we want artistes from different part of Rajasthan to interact with each other,” reiterates Owen Mortimer, executive director RIFF. The lack of encouragement and scope for livelihood had forced a lot of folk artistes to look for alternative career. The foundation works throughout the year to help the artistes develop their skills and find means of income. JVF has roped in experienced consultants and musicians from across the world to help them in this endeavour. “Our volunteers go into each village and teach the artistes how to change their music to adapt to the new generation, how to perform on stage and play in front of a huge audience that is new to this kind of music,” says Mahavir.
Issues like copyright and management are also dealt with, informs Owen. “We have opened a new world for these artistes. A lot of folk artistes are now travelling worldwide to give concerts or play in films. Seeing all this, parents want their children to join their profession as well,” Owen points out.
But beyond performing arts, JVF also wants to propagate the lifestyle and arts and crafts of the Rajasthan at the festival, which will be held between October 25 and 29, with the spectacular Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur playing the host. The Mehrangarh Museum Trust formed by H. H. Maharaja Gaj Singhji of Jodhpur as well as the Government of Rajasthan has lent their support for this venture. “Never before has folk music been performed inside a fort and that too with the support of the royal family,” states Mahavir. With endorsement from the UNESCO, the foundation also organises the Jaipur Heritage International Festival in January and from this year will also hold a heritage festival at Amber fort, Jaipur in March. “Indian tourism needs to reinvent itself. Festivals like these make good business sense as they bring in a lot of tourist. We just want to create a model that can be replicated in other states as well.”
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