Jodhpur to host flamenco and gypsy fest

The Mehrangarh Fort here will host the first edition of the Jodhpur Flamenco and Gypsy Festival (JFGF), a three-day music and dance extravaganza to be held March 13-15.

The three-day festival will bring the flamenco traditions as well as musicians from different Gypsy tradition to the country.

Some of the renowned Spanish artists such as Pepe Habichuela, Josemi Carmona, Chano Dominguez, Augustin Carbonel 'El Bola' and Karen Lugo are likely to be part of the event.

Helmed by the Mehrangarh Museum Trust, the fest will serve as a one-stop place for artists to collaborate, learn from each other and create soulful music.

Maharaja Gaj Singh II, managing trustee of the Mehrangarh Museum Trust, says they wish to preserve and promote the musical heritage of the gypsies in Rajasthan and present the traditions that evolved from the distant travels of those tribes centuries ago.

"JFGF will showcase a more contemporary view of desert music and dance by creating a common platform for artists to collaborate and bring forth cultures and traditions that appeal to the people world over. The festival will provide music enthusiasts with an experience that is enriching as well as enchanting," he said in a statement.

Talking about the connection between the Rajasthani folklore and the Spanish Flamenco, Cavaliere Roberto Nieddu, managing and artistic director of JFGF, said: "It is as old as the gypsies who migrated from India centuries ago.

"A cultural exchange like the JFGF promises to bring renowned talent from across the globe to explore the roots of music they excel in."