\nThe Rajasthan International Folk Festival (RIFF) promises to be one grand event Rolling Stones\u2019 Mick Jagger is expected to be one of the biggest attractions of the five-day festival in Jodhpur that starts on October 10.
\n\u201cMick Jagger has confirmed to be the patron of the festival, but his dates are still being finalised,\u201d says Divya Bhatia, the festival director.
\nOther renowned musicians like Ustad Sultan Khan and Shubha Mudgal have confirmed their participation.
\nIn terms of performance, the main attraction would be sarangi maestro Ustad Sultan Khan. He will team up with Lakha Khan Manganiyar (one of Rajasthan\u2019s most accomplished sarangi player) and Anwar Khan Manganiyar (vocal) for the performance. Sultan and Lakha have spent several days together in Jodhpur, exploring folk themes, listening to each other, and evolving a repertoire designed to surpass other similar crossover attempts.
\nThe other much-anticipated performance is Padma Shri award winner Shubha Mudgal\u2019s vocal recital. She is expected to present an ode to Rajasthan\u2019s traditional balladeers.
\nShubha, who can boast of varied vocal styles and her mastery over Hindustani classical, Thumri and Khayal, will belt out songs ranging from the bhajans of Mirabai to the praises of Nathadwaraji during her performance that will echo the evocative words of Rajasthan\u2019s greatest poets and songwriters.
\nSome other attractions of the festival will be the Qawaali performance by Zakir Ali and his party from the Ajmer Sharif Dargah in Rajasthan and the \u2018club\u2019 night. Zakir, is a third generation qawaal who received training under the guidance of his father and guru Babban Khan \u2018Diwana\u2019 and grandfather, Janab Mehbob Khan Saab of Rae Bareilly. The \u2018club\u2019 night will also feature four virtuoso artistes from three different traditions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"