JAIPUR HERITAGE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
13 – JANUARY 2008

The Jaipur Heritage International Festival enters into its fifth year. In addition to a number of daily events – the Dastkar Nature Bazaar, international visual arts exhibitions and wonderful workshops – the following events are scheduled to take place. Full programme details may be found by logging on to: www.jaipurfestival.org

Daily and ongoing events:

VISUAL ARTS EXHBITIONS

Daily throughout the Festival, a number of visual arts exhibitions bring you glimpses of creativity from various parts of the world… and from closer to home.
Culture on Cloth: Inuit Embroideries from Baker Lake, Canada
13 Jan – 10 Feb, 10:30 – 17:00 Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing, Kheri Gate, Amber
This visual arts exhibition brings beautiful embroideries created by women in one of the coldest regions of the world to Rajasthan, one of the hottest. There are surprising similarities in the imagery to the embroideries of Rajasthan – children and animals, dance and music, work and play. A special supporting exhibition showcases traditional felt-making from Tonk, 100km from Jaipur.
Well Into the 21st Century - Usha Rani, Kripal Singh Shekhawat
13 – 21 January, 11.00 – 18.00 Jawahar Kala Kendra - Chaturdic Gallery
Two outstanding exhibitions of the best Indian contemporary art: fluid sculpture by Usha Rani and exquisite new paintings by Kripal Singh Shekhawat.
Reconnecting Gondwana
13 – 21 January, 11.00 – 18.00 Jawahar Kala Kendra – Sukriti Gallery
The art of the Australian Aboriginal people is the oldest living art tradition in the world. The works displayed here are drawn from the extensive private collection of Anthony Ellis and Sonya Boylan. An interesting comparison can be made with works by another indigenous culture: Gond artists from Madhya Pradesh.
Visible & Invisible: China’s Tangible and Intangible Heritage
13 – 21 January, 11.00 – 18.00 Jawahar Kala Kendra – Surekh Gallery
This exhibition of 40 photographs highlights the precious heritage of the western province of Shanxi, a cradle of Chinese civilisation. Participating in the exhibition are Li Qianguang, Zhang Yongsi, Wang Yue, Mao Xiaoyu and Cui Heping.

DASTKAR RAJASTHAN REPERTORY NATURE BAZAAR

13 – 21 January, 11:00 – 20:00 Jawahar Kala Kendra
100 stalls with over 200 craftspeople will bring together hand-crafted and eco-friendly products to showcase craft from Rajasthan and all of India. Special black tiger pottery from Ranthambore, traditional Godna painting from Bihar, dhokra utility items of brass, copper and other materials from Orissa and are complemented by ironware from Bastar in Chattisgarh. Textiles are prominent with Kinnauri shawls from Himachal Pradesh, hand-knits from Ladakh, block prints, pattu weaves, indigo cotton, khadi, tussar, kota, chenderi, jamdani and vegetable-dyed fabrics. Also featured are organic foods – cereals, pulses, vegetables, pickles and jams – and a range of herbal beauty products.

SATURDAY 13 JANUARY

19:30 Jawahar Kala Kendra
Vikku Vinayak
Vikku Vinayakram is one of India’s finest exponents of the ghatam – a large clay pot percussion instrument.
22:00 Nahargarh
New Music Launch Party by Event Crafter
The new music programme of the Festival kicks off with a great line up of club music brought to you by nationally acclaimed DJ Whosane.

SUNDAY 14 JANUARY

12:00 Chaugan Stadium
Kite Festival
On the auspicious occasion of Makkar Sankrant, all of Jaipur celebrates by flying kites. The skyline is dotted with kites of myriad hues, shapes and sizes.
20:00 Diggi Palace
Baithaks – Strings of Thar
Strings of Thar brings together the melodious and playful sounds of Rajasthan’s string instruments, featuring compositions by ten artists on various chordophonic instruments.

MONDAY 15 JANUARY

12:00 JKK
Curator’s Talk – Well Into the 21st Century
Dr Alka Pande will converse with the well-known Jaipur artists Usha Rani and Kripal Singh Shekhawat in the exhibition space. Information about the exhibition is found below.
15:00 Brij Bihari Temple, Tripolia Bazaar, adjacent Thandi Piao
Temple Recital - Dr Kumud Diwan
Dr Kumud Diwan, renown all over India for her vocal virtuosity and her commitment to Indian classical music, will perform in the evocative environment of Brij Bihari Temple.
19:00 Jawahar Kala Kendra
Heartland - Sarah Mandie and Rukma Devi
Australian vocalist, Sarah Mandie shares the very heart of Australian and Rajasthani song as she meets with the unique and passionate Manganiyar singer, Rukma Devi.
20:00 Birla Auditorium
Kaifi aur Main - Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar
This play is based on the life of famous actor, Kaifi Azmi and stars Shabana Azmi, one of India’s most outstanding actors and her husband, Javed Akhtar.
21:30 – 23:00 Late Stage at Diggi Palace
Shye Ben-Tzur
Israeli poet and musician, Shye Ben-Tzur performs at the Late Stage, an informal, laid back platform for musicians who have travelled to Jaipur for the Festival to jam, experiment or just let loose and play.

TUESDAY 16 JANUARY

12:00 Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing, Kheri Gate, Amber
Curator’s Talk: Judith Varney Burch
The curator of Culture on Cloth: Inuit Embroideries from Baker Lake, Canada will speak in the exhibition space. Information about the exhibition is found below.
15:00 Jawahar Kala Kendra, Rangayan Auditorium
Puppet Theatre - Los Titiriteros de Binéfar
This Spanish puppet theatre company perform The Fable of the Fox, an adventure that explores the relationship between man and nature.
19:00 Jawahar Kala Kendra, Madhyavarti
Shye Ben-Tzur, Live!
Israeli poet and composer, Shye Ben-Tzur, together with leading Qawwals, Zakir Ali and Zaki Ali, makes a mystical journey through Sufi music and the ancient Hebrew heritage in one act of musical worship.
19:30 Idgaha Grounds
Open-Air City Concert - Sarah Mandie and Rukma Devi
A brilliant combination of two female voices: Sarah Mandie from Australia and Rukma Devi, her Rajasthani teacher. They are accompanied by desert instruments from both their homes.
20:00 Alsisar Haveli Heritage Hotel
Baithak: Maand
Maand is a traditional Rajasthani singing idiom, developed under the patronage of royal courts of the region. Each court added its own unique flavour to the form to the songs of love, separation, reunion and valour.
21:30-23:00 Late Stage at Diggi Palace
Autorickshaw
Vocalist Suba Sankaran, tabla player Ed Hanley, bassist Rich Brown and exotic percussionist Debashis Sinha make up Autorickshaw, a dynamic international group that performs an intriguing combination of world music and jazz.

WEDNESDAY 17 JANUARY

12:00 Jawahar Kala Kendra – Chaturdic Gallery
Curators’ Talks - An Artistic Journey: Rajasthan and the UK
Join the participating artists as they speak on their work and the Welsh experience in the exhibition space.
15:00 Jawahar Kala Kendra
Puppet Theatre – Tiyatro Tempo (Turkey)
Karagoz – The Witches and the Indian Fakir is a traditional performance of three varieties of Turkish puppets: shadow puppets, marionettes and string puppets. The contrast promises to be fascinating and the character of the Indian fakir may have resonances for the audience.
19:00 Jawahar Kala Kendra, Madhyavarti
Harmonies 2007
This programme offers a magical journey that ranges across the traditions of the music of exotic Langas and Manganiyars, the rare mashak players, and the ballads of the incredible bhopas, semi-classical vocals by Maneesha Agarwal and new music by Rajasthan Roots.
21:30 – 23:00 Late Stage at Diggi Palace
Sarah Mandie and Rukma Devi
Two female voices – Sarah Mandie from Australia and Rukma Devi her Rajasthani teacher – go live and unplugged in the intimate setting of Festival hub, Diggi Palace.

THURSDAY 18 JANUARY

12:00 Jawahar Kala Kendra – Saudarshan Gallery
Curator’s Talk - Danka Embroidery: Revival Initiative
Dr Vandana Bhandari will speak in the exhibition space about this extraordinary art form and her efforts to save it.
15:00 Ramchanderji Temple, opposite Old Vidhan Sabha
Dhrupad: Temple Recital - Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar
Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar is the twentieth generation in an unbroken line of dhrupad singers and performs regularly in India and abroad at government events, festivals and also for radio and television.
19:30 Ramleela Maidan, old Vidhyadhar Nagar
Open-Air City Concert - Folk Performances from Rajasthan
This evening of Rajasthan folk commences with a heritage play depicting the colour and dramas of daily life in Jaipur, performed by 35 young local actors mixing song, dance and drama. A folk music performance will follow featuring local musicians and bhawai dance. Rounding the evening up will be a Qawwali.
18:30 Jawahar Kala Kendra, Madhyavardi
Kavi Sammelan - Sh. Surendra Sharma, Sh. Durga Dan Singh Gaur, Sh. Bhagirath Singh Bhagya, Sh. Mukut Mani Raj, Sh. Bhanwar ji Bhanwar, Smt. Chanda Parasar, Sh. Sampat Saral
This event takes the audience back to the roots of Rajasthan poetry, bringing together seven of the most outstanding poets from each of the cultural regions of the state. Come rediscover the timeless themes of romance, humour, valour, history and political satire.
20:00 Narain Niwas Palace
Baithak: Winds of Thar
A concert of the wind instruments of Rajasthan. The programme brings together an impressive line up of wind instruments that includes shehnai, murli, algoza, mashak and more.
21:30-23:00 Late Stage at Diggi Palace
Eduardo Niebla and Carl Herring
Eduardo Niebla is a world-class virtuoso Spanish guitarist and composer. His poignantly poetic music fuses flamenco gypsy jazz with India, Arabic, Latin and classical influences to create an exhilarating musical experience. He is accompanied by the UK guitarist Carl Herring and Rajasthani musicians.

FRIDAY 19 JANUARY

The first day of the JAIPUR LITERATURE FESTIVAL: our festival-within-a-festival. The beautiful and evocative Diggi Palace, the home of the Literature Festival, will host a packed and exciting programme.
9:00 Literature Festival at Diggi Palace
Literature Festival - National Book Trust Children’s Writing Workshop
Paro Anand and Atanu Roy lead a group of 100 schoolchildren to discover the world of creative writing.
10:00 Literature Festival at Diggi Palace
Baby Halder
The domestic worker-turned writer speaks of her extraordinary life with moderator, Urvashi Butalia.
11:00 Literature Festival at Diggi Palace
Christopher Kremmer
Author of The Carpet Wars, Bamboo Palace and Inhaling the Mahatma will discuss with media legend, Mark Tully.
12:00 Literature Festival at Diggi Palace
Kiran Nagarkar
One of the most significant writers of post-colonial India (novels include Cuckhold and God’s Little Warrior) meets Shoma Choudhary.
12:00 Jawahar Kala Kendra – Sukriti Gallery
Curator’s Talks - Reconnecting Gondwana
Anthony Ellis, the owner-curator, will speak about this extraordinary collection of Australian aboriginal art.
14:00 Literature Festival at Diggi Palace
William Dalrymple
A delightful encounter with one of India’s cherished writers. The author of City of Djinns, White Mughals, From the Holy Mountain and The Last Mughal converses with Mark Tully.
15:00 Literature Festival at Diggi Palace
Seemantini Raghav
The daughter of Ranghe Raghav ji, one of the most prolific Hindi fiction writers of Rajasthan reads excerpts from his work.
16:00 Literature Festival at Diggi Palace
Feryal Ali Gauhar
This writer, actress and filmmaker will perform a powerful one-act play addressing the issue of violence against women.
17:00 Literature Festival at Diggi Palace
Three Poets - Keki Daruwala, Jeet Thayil and Jane Bhandari
Three of India’s leading poets remember Nissim Ezekiel, Dom Moraes and Arun Kolatkar. Moderated by Antara Sen, editor of The Little Magazine.
19:00 Jawahar Kala Kendra
Qawwali: Ghulam Hassan
Qawwali is an ancient style of devotional singing that draws on Islam. Ghulam Hassan and company will be performing a fascinating blend of group and solo singing.
20:00 Amber Fort, Diwaan I Aam
Rajputs and Mughals: Courtly Culture from 1857
This evocative and visually impressive evening transports us to the period of the last Mughal Emperor. An introductory Mand performance sets the scene, followed by readings by author William Dalrymple, recitations by Mahmood Farooqui and vocals by Radhika Chopra to celebrate the sweet and poignant poetry and ghazals of the Mughal court.
21:30 – 23:00 Late Stage at Diggi Palace
Jaipur Artists Project
Jaipur Artists Project is a collective of Jaipur-based musicians that fuses genres ranging from Indian Classical, Rajasthan Folk and western jazz and blues, to create a contemporary sound.
22:00 The Factory, Mann Industries
New Music Gatherings by Event Crafter - Tatva Kundalini and Midival Punditz
The first night of a three-day electronica music festival sees South Asia’s rich musical heritage mix with the exuberance of modern Western electronic music, as rock anthems, electronic beats and basslines fuse with live bass and folk classical instruments.

SATURDAY 20 JANUARY

9:00 Literature Festival at Diggi Palace
National Book Trust Children’s Writing Workshop
Dr. Hari Krishna Devsare and Atanu Roy introduce the world of creative writing and illustrating to local schoolchildren.
10:00 Literature Festival at Diggi Palace
Ashok Vajpeyi
Distinguished Hindi poet, critic, editor and cultural administrator, Ashok Vajpeyi will discuss his work with Sheen Kaaf Nizam, eminent Urdu poet and critic.
11:00 Literature Festival at Diggi Palace
Tishani Doshi
This winner of the prestigious Forward Prize for Poetry will read from Countries of the Body and speak with Anita Roy.
12:00 Literature Festival at Diggi Palace
Jerry Pinto
Poet and journalist, this author will read from Leela’s Quilt and discuss with Ravi Singh, Executive Editor of Penguin India.
14:00 Literature Festival at Diggi Palace
Kiran Desai
The most recent recipient of the Man Booker Prize will read from her astounding work, The Inheritance of Loss. Barkha Dutt, the well-known face of NDTV will moderate the session.
14:30 and 16:30 Jawahar Kala Kendra
Family Events - Barking Spider
From Australia, Hatch is the tale of a puppet character called Little Legs. After a joyful birth he encounters pain followed by disillusion and loss of sense of self. He journeys through different worlds seeking understanding. There is no spoken dialogue but playful and upbeat music transforms with the action.
15:00 Brij Bihari Temple, Tripolia Bazaar, adjacent Thandi Piao
Temple Recital - Afternoon Ragas: Pt. Krishna Mohan Bhatt
Internationally acclaimed sitar maestro Pandit Krishna Bhatt will play Raag Shuddha Maand and Raag Loor Sarang. A raga is a musical colouring associated with an aesthetic state known as raga bhava. It is this which draws in the listener and it is the test of the musician to be able to arouse this sentiment in the audience.
15:00 Literature Festival at Diggi Palace
Shashi Deshpande
One of India’s most established authors (including A Matter of Time and The Binding Vine) meets writer, Ira Pande.
16:00 Literature Festival at Diggi Palace
Suketu Mehta
This fiction writer and journalist based in New York won the Kiriyama Prize for his first book Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found which was also a finalist for the 2005 Pulitzer Prize. He will speak with celebrated writer William Dalrymple.
17:00 Literature Festival at Diggi Palace
Bhanu Bharti
One of the most prominent theatre directors in India will read from his plays Katha Kahi Ek Jale Ped Ne and Nachni and speak with Sanjeev Mishra.
17:30 Nahargarh Kund
Holiwater
Holiwater is an extraordinary multi-media performance, incorporating visual projections, magnificent live music and charismatic orators. Staged around an ancient stepped reservoir in the spectacular Nahargarh, the Tiger Fort, Holiwater speaks of our life-force – water: we worship it and at the same time abuse it, waste, pollute and ultimately lose it.
18:00 Jawahar Kala Kendra
Dislocate
Dislocate combines acrobatic aerial theatre with comedy and the excitement of the circus, as they perform 3 Speed Crunch Box, a fast-paced, highly humorous, frantic, ground-based street theatre act about a ridiculous family of absurd stuntpeople. The group will also hold a workshop with Jaipur acrobats and performers.
20:00 Jawahar Kala Kendra
Rajasthan Roots
Rajasthan Roots is a collective formed to promote the performing arts of Rajasthan. Supported by JVF, it brings folk to a multicultural platform by creating new folk, blues, hip-hop and electronica. All compositions reflect Rajasthan folk with traditional instruments such as the khamaicha, naga, morchang, karrtal, bhapang, dholak, dhol, tagari and algoza, but these are fused with guitar, saxophone and drums.
22:00 The Factory, Mann Industries
New Music Gatherings by Event Crafter - Mili Bhagat and the Nasha Experience with Osmani Soundz
Pankaj Awasthi has been singing and writing Sufi music for over a decade. Followed by the UK-based Nasha Experience, whose monthly London club night has been voted one of the UK’s Top 10 Club Nights, and who have released two compilation albums (Eastern Drum and Breaks, vol 1 and 2).

SUNDAY 21 JANUARY

9:00 Literature Festival at Diggi Palace
Creative Writing Workshop
Jugal Mody leads a group of adults in a 90 minute intensive workshop.
10:00 Literature Festival at Diggi Palace
Amit Chaudhuri
One of India’s most prominent novelists (A Strange and Sublime Address, Afternoon Raag, Freedom Song, A New World, Real Time and St Cyril Road and Other Poems) speaks with Anita Roy.
11:00 Literature Festival at Diggi Palace
Anupam Mishra
Writer, Ghandian and environmental activist, Mr. Mishra is one of the most knowledgeable people in India on traditional water-harvesting systems. He speaks with the writer, publisher and feminist Urvashi Butalia.
12:00 Literature Festival at Diggi Palace
John Zubrzycki
This Sydney-based journalist and author of The Last Nizam: An Indian Prince in the Australian Outback will talk with HH Maharaja Gajsinghji Jodhpur.
14:00 Literature Festival at Diggi Palace
Ira Pande
Ms. Pande is the author of Diddi, which pays homage to her mother, the beloved Hindi writer Shivani (Gaura Pant). The moderator will be writer, Namita Gokhale.
15:00 Literature Festival at Diggi Palace
Sheen Kaaf Nizam
This widely acclaimed Urdu poet (Bayazain Kho Gayee Hain; Saya Koi Lamba na Tha; Lavz dar Lavz, Manto: Aijaaj ke Afsan and Sehra ke Samar) will read from his ghazals, nawms and shayari in Urdu, moderated by Ajay Chopra.
16:00 Literature Festival at Diggi Palace
Salman Rushdie
This world-famous author has penned numerous thoughtful, provoking and finely rich books and novels including, Grimus, Midnight’s Children (which was named the ‘Booker of the Bookers’ in 1993), Shame, The Satanic Verses, The Moor’s Last Sigh, East, West, Haroun and the Sea of Stories, Fury, The Ground Beneath Her Feet. His latest, Shalimar the Clown has just been published. Mr Rushdie will be in conversation with Barkha Dutt
17:00 Literature Festival at Diggi Palace
Economic Power, Publishing Power: The Future of Literature in India - David Godwin, Marc Parent, Ravi Singh
This panel session brings together some of the key figures in publishing in France, the UK and India. With the eyes of the English-language publishing world turned to India, where will literature go next? A challenging and informative discussion for all those with a love of literature.
18:00 Jawahar Kala Kendra
Dislocate
This is the second performance of the spell-binding Australian human circus group. See the entry above (Saturday 20, 18:00) for more details.
18:00
An evening with Caferati
The online writer’s group takes shape with an evening of informal readings, mingling and entertainment.
19:00 Jawahar Kala Kendra
World Rajasthan
This vibrant and colourful Concert World Rajasthan looks forward to the new Rajasthan International Folk Festival (RIFF) that will take place in Jodhpur in October 2007. Some of the best of local traditional music and dance will be showcased and new directions in the spirit of world music will be demonstrated.
22:00 The Factory, Mann Industries
New Music Gatherings by Event Crafter - Rajasthan Roots and Jalebee Cartel
Rajasthan Roots is a collective formed to promote the performing arts in Rajasthan. It takes folk to new heights by melding it with folk blues and hip-hop. The Jalebee Cartel is five artists, jamming with an arsenal of synchs, laptops and percussions. Fusing influences, they create a distinctive brand of urban Indian dance music.

MONDAY 22 JANUARY

19:30 Jai Mahal Hotel
Dance of the Birds - Rama Vaidyanathan
Rama Vaidyanathan, an eminent Bharatnatyam dancer and the recipient of the Sanskriti award, will perform her newest choreography, Dance of the Birds. Using Bharatnatyam, classical dance from Tamil Nadu, the variety of birds and their relationship with nature is celebrated.