International Thar Desert Festival is a magnificent blend of different cultures of music all over the globe. It is a state of Musical trance which explains to us that music is beyond any language. Before the fest introduction, it is vital to know the wonderful place “Jaisalmer”.
Jaisalmer, known as the ‘Golden City’, is situated in southern Rajasthan(Located around 575 kilometres from Jaipur). The name Golden City rightly fits because of the glittering golden sand all over the place. All the homes and monuments are built using the yellow sandstone, which is found abundantly in the region. This magnificent city is in the heart of the Thar Desert. This place portraits the ancient Jainism culture. The Mega Rajput Fort is the most renounced tourist spot; it is believed that Maharawal Jaisal Singh is the founder of the Golden City of India. In this new era, Jaisalmer is one of the top ten destinations for celebrating the New Year Eve in India and its been a growing stage for various International Events.
The International Thar Desert Festival is an annual event held mostly in the month of February in the beautiful city Jaisalmer. The festival is the best way to witness and explore the tradition and culture of Rajasthan. It is here that you get to witness remarkable musical performances, fascinating dances, and much more.
Fest Origin: The whole idea to blend such a Musical culture in the deserts was by John K Town. John is an Australian traveller who eventually while travelling in India fell in love with a remote village of Jaisalmer. He made the whole village his family and started a home-stay/desert camping in a beautiful piece of land called “Mala Ki Dhani”. The entire fest was organized solely with the help of the villagers.
Overview: International Thar Desert Festival
Before telling you more about the event, here’s a brief overview of the
| Best Time to Visit Jaisalmer | September to February |
| Location | 15 kilometres from Jaisalmer Fort |
| Best Transport route | Local Jeeps/Auto to Mala Ki Dhani
Daily buses/trains to Jaisalmer from Jaipur, Delhi and other main cities of Rajasthan |
| Flavoursome savoury | Dal Bhati churma
Red Goat Curry Special Lassi |
| Places to wander nearby | Khuris Desert Camel safari
Bahwai Lake Sunset point on the rocky mountain Jaisalmer Golden Fort Maharaja Picnic palace |
| Fest Dates | Jan 29, 2018 to Jan 31, 2018
Feb 17, 2019 to Feb 19, 2019 |
| Event coordinator | Bhati Bhai |
| Price (pocket’s best friend) | 800-1000 per day (accommodation + food) (approx) |
Essentials for International Thar Desert Festival
When packing your bags for the festival, make note of the following things.
| Anytime you travel to Rajasthan make sure you are on a comfortable pair of cotton clothing. It is vital to protect your head from the bright sun so carry hats along and keep yourself hydrated every 2 hours.
During winter the temperature drops down drastically after sunset, make sure to carry shoes and warm clothes. |
The Fest Culture
The fest brings about the best of music from different parts of the world. It is a unique amalgamation of different types of people and different styles of music.
| The foremost culture of the fest is “Simplicity is the beauty of life”. The International Thar Desert Festival goes on for about 5 days to 8 days featuring special solo/ group performances by various travel Artists. It brings out the raw music that directly drops into your soul. During the day we will be wandering around the nearby places to visit.
But the day and night music jamming, while savouring the mystery of deserts makes you travel to a timeless zone. One is always free to make flexible plans according to their mood. On the last day of the fest, we spend quality time with the school kids. Get ready to wake the kid inside you! |
Somalay and his mesmerizing Indian Music. Photography by Anas Ali
Israeli singer & traveller Maya Bar-Tal having a fun time with kids. Photography by Anas Ali
Witness the Kalbaliya Dance under the Fading Moonlight
Rajasthan is well known for its dances. At the festival, you get to witness these brilliant dance performances.
| This is going to be the best night of the Thar Desert Festival. The soulful and cultural voices of the singers will be blending with Khartal, Bhapang, Sindhi/kamaicha Sarangi, and Ravan Hatta folk instruments. Later on, this folk music just binds everybody around with Kalbaliya dance. One would wonder looking at these novice artists, who just carry on their ancestral skills. Eventually, we too danced to the Kalbaliya music in the end.
Don’t miss out on sipping a cold special Lassi while watching the dance! |
Folk dance under the moonlight. Photography by Ankita Jain
Kabaliya Dance. Photography by Megha Katokar
Music Jamming on the shady shrubs of Bahwai Lake
Music Jam sessions are the best part of the International Thar Desert Festival. It is here that you can experience the magic of music.
| This is the moment where one can witness the Myriad of World Music and Culture under a mono roof. Ha! The Sky!
Israeli Artist Avi Mazliah expressed the unspoken emotions of the song in a unique contemporary style of dance. Then we had the strong and magical voice of Limor Ballas, a Freelance singer, who made us fall in love with the Hebrew language. One can’t stop tapping their feet on the Cathy Guitar tune by Nepali Singer, Himalaya Rai and Afro beats on djambe drums by Gali Durugappa.
It feels great to just laze on the sandy banks surrounded by all sorts of Musical instruments and sipping the special Lassi.
Kick the heat with a huge glass of special Lassi in your hand. This Lassi is so stomach filling which is made of sweetened fresh curds, flavoured with lots of pista, cashew-nuts, Kesar (saffron) and dried grapes. Served chilled! (Anytime you are hungry just grab a special Lassi at the best price of Rs. 50 to Rs. 80 available everywhere in Jaisalmer.) |
Music jamming and friends. Photography by Ankita Jain
The International Thar Desert Festival Nights
The nights in the deserts are special. The clear skies allow you to stargaze the countless stars in the sky while you enjoy the sounds of music around you. It is a truly special feeling.
| The last night of the event was featured especially with the Music system and DJ for the introduction of the most undiscovered Australian Aborigine instrument “didgeridoo”. Artist Ofer Zvi turned the whole place into a disco tech with the crazy jamming of didgeridoo and digital music.
And one cannot get enough of listening to the soothing metallic musical instrument “Hang Pan” by Abhinav Deodhar. The desert reviles her other face which is calm and breezy when you put your head down on the pillow while the moonlight falls over the face and you gaze at shooting stars in pure silence. |
Didgeridoo. Photography by Anas Ali
Be a part of the Thar Desert Festival at least once. Photography by Megha Katokar
Rich Bundle of Culture – Indian Musicals
The Indian artists at the festival are beyond splendid. They mesmerise the audience with their vocals and instruments.
| The feeling of pride! When one listens to the rich cultural heritage of Indian instruments in a Jugal-Bandi session. The International Thar Desert festival was bundled with a few of the best Indian Travel Artists who expressed a warm welcome to all the travellers- by playing the magical vocal instrument, ‘flute’ by artist Vivek Madhyahasta (from Karnataka) joined by earthen beats of ‘Ghatam’ by Rahul Singh (From South Africa) and Somalaya Sareswari (from West Bengal). Somalaya playing ‘sarod’ made us travel to another world.
We had a well versed Carnatic music and Hindustani singer, Gopika Jairam from Hyderabad, who set the whole mood magical with her excellent vocals. It felt great to interact with all the well-versed artists across India and abroad and learn the most important message “Simplicity is the beauty of life”. |
Raw music and folk artists. Photography by Anas Ali
The thrilling camel safari. Photography by Anas Ali
Flavoursome savoury
The food in Rajasthan, as everyone knows, is finger-licking delicious. When in Rajasthan, you have got to try these foods.
| Dal Bhati Churma: This is the authentic savoury of Rajasthan which is cooked with a lot of patience using coal. The wheat flour is made into small buns and cooked using coal and sand, acting as a natural stove. These hot wheat buns are dipped in yummy dal (gravy). Meanwhile, don’t miss out on having a few spoons of classic Rajasthani sweet “churma”.
Red Goat Curry: Mutton is cooked evenly in a huge vessel on a low flame. The red curry contains a lot of freshly powdered Rajasthani spice and dried red chillies. The red mutton curry with wheat roti (Wheat bread) coated with ghee on the plate-Is such a festival to the taste buds of all the spicy food lovers. |
Dal Bhatti Churma. Photography by Subhrajit Bhattacharya
Red Goat Curry. Photography by Ayushi Mathur
Mala Ki Dhani – Welcomes you all!!
| The whole event of the Thar Desert Festival would never have been possible without the warmth of all the localities. They make you, part of their family- interacting and are constantly around to guide all the travellers. The whole place is filled with humble-hearted villagers constantly exchanging smiles when you pass by.
Make sure to witness the ‘wow’ moment in the desert – Dusk breaking into dawn from the hilly mountain, capture this moment on your camera. |
The author of the current post – Ms Megha Katokar on the side of the other two travellers Madhu and Gal.
Visit the International Thar Music festival with a good camera to capture the wild camels, colourful pagadi (turbans), sam sand dunes, camel safari and the Mega golden fort of Jaisalmer.
Happy Wayfaring 🙂