Rajasthani folk musicians at the heart of Jodhpur RIFF

From the first edition of Jodhpur RIFF (Rajasthan International Folk Festival) at Mehrangarh Fort in 2007 to now — much has changed, and not.

While the core aspects of that original concept remain intact, they have evolved organically, responding to the shifting music landscape both in India and abroad. Yet, Rajasthani folk musicians continue to form the heart of the Jodhpur RIFF experience, which invites artistes and audiences from across the country and the world.

“The texture of the festival is acoustic and the flavour is contemporary; it is regional and international at its core,” says Divya Bhatia, Jodhpur RIFF’s festival director, as he prepares for the upcoming edition scheduled from October 2 to 6.

Emphasising that musicians of different genres, cultures, and regions share the stage in mutual respect, Bhatia says he is not surprised at the way the festival has evolved over the past two decades. “It is now attracting a far wider spectrum of audiences and is firmly placed in festival calendars in India and globally. I am quite happy that we have been able to give our traditional artistes a larger, far-reaching platform — and that we have managed to sustain it for almost two decades.”

Even as RIFF now hosts artistes from across the globe, Bhatia ensures the festival retains its unique Rajasthani identity by never losing focus. “Whatever I plan, program, commission, or curate from anywhere in the world, I ensure there are strong Rajasthani folk elements.”

He admits the festival has evolved in terms of audience demographics. In the initial years, it largely attracted older participants, mostly 40 and above. Now, audiences between 18 and 60 form the majority.

With over 200 Rajasthani folk artistes participating in every edition, Bhatia smiles: “They all want to come back each year, and there are hundreds more who want to join. This is exciting, but it also pushes me to constantly rethink the curation so that established artistes are supported and new ones find a platform too.”

Recalling the early years, the festival director says, “When RIFF first started, not many in the country could even name a Rajasthani folk artiste. Today, however, most festivals and even weddings feature some Rajasthani folk element. Back then, very few people listened to folk music. But now, an original acoustic Rajasthani folk song by SAZ, released earlier this year, has already crossed 1.4 million views on YouTube.”

He believes historic venues such as Mehrangarh Fort play a vital role in shaping the festival experience, with the location itself becoming ‘another artiste’ in the performance. “Many historic and heritage venues exist, but if used thoughtfully and integrated into the artistic experience in a site-conscious manner, that is when the artiste, the music, the audience, and the site become one.”

While the festival seeks to remain an integral part of a nourishing ecosystem that positively impacts the livelihoods of Rajasthani folk artistes, Bhatia says they are working on several initiatives to strengthen those efforts.

On the challenges of sustaining an arts festival — especially funding — he explains that for a not-for-profit like Jodhpur RIFF, the primary sources of income are tickets, food and beverages. “We have been steadily growing that segment every year. The Mehrangarh Museum Trust hosts the festival and subsidises part of its expenditure. The rest I raise through private philanthropy, in-kind support, embassy backing, and corporate sponsorship,” he says, adding that there are plans to expand the festival.