Fort comes alive with fest

JODHPUR: The historic Mehrangarh Fort came alive with myriad forms of rustic folk art with the unleashing of the sixth edition of Jodhpur RIFF on Saturday.
Rajasthani folk dancers had the connoisseurs spellbound and compelled them to match steps with them. Various dance forms like Chakri, Dhol-Thali, Bhawai, Gair, Bhopa and Kanhaiya nritya were showcased on the festival's second day.
"We want the visitors to the festival to have a close brush with the different performing arts of Rajasthan to acquaint them with the treasures of their own land," said Divya Bhatia, director of Jodhpur RIFF. The entire fort is serving as a stage for the performances which begin at 11am and continue till 5pm. The festival is a cultural mélange of sorts.
The UNESCO-endorsed Rajasthan International Folk Festival (RIFF) formally began on Saturday with the melodious devotional renditions of Bhopa Bhopi tradition by Bhanwari Devi and Patashi Devi at the crack of dawn at the historical Jaswant Thada tucked beside the fort.
It was followed by Dusk Devotion comprising singers and Tandura players from Meghwal community. Maand singing by Jamali Bai from Bikaner and Dayaram by Merta combined with Didgeridoo played by Mark Atkins in collaboration with Rajasthani percussionists. Rhythms of Grupo Cimarron from Colombia reverberated at the Zenana Courtyard.
The day ended with traditional Rajasthani Quawali renditions by Ghulam Hussain from Jaipur and DJ mps Pilot from the Netherlands made the audience groove at the beautiful Chokelav Garden.