It is that time of the year when Jaipur turns nippy, when the sun shines at its sharpest but never stings, thanks to the cool winter breeze balancing everything out. It was also the perfect moment to be at the Jaigarh Heritage Festival, a celebration of Rajasthan with Jaipur’s royal family at the forefront.
Two days at the festival were packed with music, cultural performances, immersive workshops, delectable food, and handcrafted treasures. Set against the backdrop of the historic Jaigarh Fort, a landmark steeped in the city’s legacy, the event transformed the space into a cultural immersion for every visitor.
A Dip Into Culture
Jaipur is having its moment, and the timing of the Jaigarh Heritage Festival couldn't be better. Artisans from across Rajasthan showcased the region’s famed crafts - bandhani, block printing, and laak, all under one roof. What made the experience even more memorable was the opportunity to have real-time interactions with local artists. Rekhaji, with tales of her family's generations' old block printing craft. Mohan, demonstrating laak bangle making, shared how each piece takes time and precision, though years of practice have made him swift.
Beyond crafts, the musical performances and workshops brought Rajasthan even closer. Whether it was learning to play the khartal with Chugge Khan or losing myself to the goosebump-inducing melodies of the Manganiyar musicians, every moment was reminiscent of the state’s artistic heritage.
The festival’s retail lane also featured homegrown brands from the region offering handcrafted ethnic wear, jackets, paintings, and more.
The People Behind It
The Jaigarh Heritage Festival brings together slices of Rajasthan that you rarely get to experience. It celebrates crafts and karigars, showcases the state’s artistic diversity, and offers performances by some of its biggest cultural torchbearers. Creating a festival of this scale takes passion and vision, so we spoke to the people behind it.
Sawai Padmanabh Singh, who stands at the forefront of the event, shared just how deeply connected he is to the festival. “I had a chance to do a festival at a smaller scale three years ago, and it was then that I experienced the joy, and thought of getting professionals involved. That’s how the journey started, and since then, I have been closely involved with the programming. Our dream is to make it evolve and do it for a longer period. And we can get to a place where we have an ongoing programme with some of our contributors, especially some of the artisans and the craftsmen.”
Sanjoi K. Roy, managing director, Teamwork Arts, added that the festival was designed to capture the essence of Rajasthan in a way that allowed visitors to experience its many facets under one umbrella. And with the team confirming that the festival is likely to extend its two-day celebration, we are already looking forward to the third edition.
