The Hindu Business Line : The ABCDs of development in Rajasthan

AT its heart, the Jaipur Heritage International Festival is all about ABCD: arts, buildings, craft and development. Or as Faith Singh, Trustee, Jaipur Virasat Foundation, the voluntary body spearheading the festival's organisation puts it: "The festival is intended to drive development in Rajasthan while showcasing the State's rich fabric of living traditions in craft, performing arts, folk traditions and buildings."

Scheduled to be held from January 7 to January 21 next year, the festival is based on the belief that Rajasthan's heritage is its greatest economic asset and is something that should be leveraged while being preserved. The festival should not only have a direct impact on the State's economy, but should push interest in its culture, craft and heritage, she explains. With this in mind, the festival draws on support from the Governments of India and Rajasthan, corporate houses and the work of a number of volunteers.

Though it focuses on Rajasthan, the festival is also a celebration of India's creative arts and crafts and ultimately of Indian civilisation, explains Singh. Similarly, while aiming to attract visitors from outside, the festival is essentially an event intended to engage the people of Jaipur and help them bond with their city. "Unless people have a personal interest, investment and pride in their heritage, they have no motive in preserving this heritage," Singh points out.

Keeping this in mind, the festival organisers are working on creating an event that appeals to the denizens of Jaipur, while also attracting visitors from outside the State. The theme of next year's festival is centred on the Chaupad — the popular name for the crossroads within the `old city'. The intention is to promote concepts such as community and convergence that the Chaupad is believed to represent.

Structured as a `city festival', the event will have "something for everyone", says Singh. While `gala' events will be organised over the weekends, other theme-based programmes such as `food day', `kite day', `literacy day' and so on will be held on specific days.

Many events will be held in unique spaces — palaces, forts, temples and historic buildings — that capture the city's ethos, she says. While entry to most events will be free, some will be ticketed programmes, Singh points out.

Music and dance will be an important component of the festival, with performances, workshops and other events being held every day. Some 500 musicians from rural Rajasthan, including many who have never performed in a `significant' public space before, will perform during the festival fortnight. These performers will also interact with performing artists from around the world who are expected to participate in the festival, says Singh.

The festival will also pay special attention to craft and shopping, she says. In addition to a `national craft expo', the event will include a sale of branded craft items from across the country titled `Objects of desire'. Besides, a specially developed `festival collection' of one-off craft products targeted at collectors will also be sold.

In keeping with the decision to involve Jaipur's citizens, the festival will have several segments for young people. In fact, one of the four `festival hubs' will be devoted to young people and will showcase a range of activities targeted at them. Demonstrations by young master craftsmen, interactive sessions with them, workshops for school and college students and competitive events will be some of the highlights of the events at this `hub', she explains.

Heritage walks, dance parties in interesting locales, workshops and seminars are some other highlights of the festival, says Singh. The ultimate objective is to turn the Jaipur Heritage International Festival into `the' Indian festival in the world of arts and crafts, while facilitating development and also bringing people back to their roots, she declares.

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