• Know all about the Sacred Spirit Festival that will be held in Jodhpur from 14-16th February 2025.

Jodhpur will resonate with the sounds of serenading music once again in the month of February. The Mehrangarh Museum Trust will enchant the music aficionados from around the globe with the Sacred Spirit Festival (SSF).

Mehrangarh Fort. 2013. Pic by S Nayyar. 

With the grandeur and breathtaking Mehrangarh Fort as the backdrop, SSF will take a step further in enchanting its guests with an impressive line-up of artists in a stunning royal setting. 

Announcing the festival, His Highness Maharaja Gajsingh II of Marwar - Jodhpur, Patron says, “We are all enthused to announce that the 16th edition of the Sacred Spirit Festival will be organised from the 14th February, 2025 to 16th February, 2025 at the Mehrangarh Fort. 

The Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, with its centuries-old history and stunning architecture, provides a majestic canvas for the blending of musical traditions from around the world. It's a wonderful fusion of culture, history, and spirituality, offering attendees the chance to experience the richness of Marwar’s musical mastery and global heritage in a place steeped in tradition. Whether it's through mesmerizing performances or unique collaborations, this festival is a powerful reminder of the unifying power of music. 

The collaboration between Rajasthani musicians and international artists is one of the most exciting aspects of the Sacred Spirit Festival. It’s a beautiful representation of how music, as a universal language, transcends boundaries. Musicians with their deep-rooted traditions and unique soundscapes, bring a richness that complements and elevates the performances. 

Whether it's the unforgettable soulful rhythms of the Khartal or the melodies of the Kamaicha or Sarangi, or the Rajasthani renditions of sufi music in Raag Maand, add a special vibrancy to the event. At the same time, international artists with their unique instruments, contribute their own distinctive influences, creating cross-cultural exchanges that lead to truly unique and immersive performances. 

These collaborations can be a powerful way for artists to learn from each other, blending their diverse histories, instruments, and styles to create something spellbinding. The audience, too, is treated to a multi-layered experience—listening to sounds they might never have encountered before, while also seeing how the different musical traditions are intertwined and harmonized in an absolutely electrifying atmosphere! ” 

Alain Weber, Artistic Director of the festival added, “This edition is a deeply immersive exploration of musical traditions that bridge time, space, and cultures. The connection between music, nature, and spirituality seems to be at the heart of this journey, drawing from the ancient wisdom embedded in folk traditions and classical practices. The idea of being carried into another world through music, where one can experience serenity and beauty, is compelling. 

Also the quote from Omar Khayyam—“Be happy for this moment, because this moment is your life”—resonates with the overarching theme of mindfulness and the sacredness of the present, suggesting that the music isn’t just an art form but a medium to reconnect with something deeper, transcendent, and timeless. 

Puliyattam Tiger Dance, Thrissur, Kerala. Pic By Srinivas Akella. 

Puliyattam Tiger Dance in this upcoming edition, evokes a rich visual and spiritual landscape, highlighting the living practices of Adivasi tribes that still honor nature as sacred. It’s interesting to think of how these ancient rituals can be seen not just as cultural practices but as a kind of environmental message—calling attention to the urgent need to respect and protect the natural world. The idea of a “strong musical transmission from fathers to sons, mothers to daughters” feels particularly significant in this context, evoking the idea that music and wisdom aren’t just inherited but are lived, felt, and passed through the generations as part of a larger, interconnected spiritual fabric. This music isn’t merely to be listened to, but felt in every sense, inviting us to not only hear the melodies but to listen with our hearts and souls—to let the music remind us of our deep connection to the earth, to each other, and to the world beyond what we see.”

Deba of Mayotte. 

Ranjini and Gayatri, the Queen Sisters of Carnatic singing. 

S. Swaminathan.

Madan Gopal Singh and the Char Yaar Ensemble. 

This year’s highlights are special performances by Osei Kwame Korankye from Ghana, Puliyattam Dance from Tanjur, the Sufi Deba Tradition of Comoro Islands, Dudukner Ensemble from Armenia, David Ambrogio, Perrine Bourel, Mana Serrano, Ranjini and Gayatri, the Queen Sisters of Carnatic singing.

Other attractions of the festival are special performances by Padma Shri Anwar Khan Manganiyar and Talab Khan Manganiyar, S. Swaminathan, Naissam Jalal, Madan Gopal Singh and the Char Yaar Ensemble, Guru CS Anuroop and disciple Parvathy Dileep, Dariya, Kilam, Sagar Ram etc.

Festival Team

1. Patrons - Gordon Matthew Sumner Sting and His Highness Maharaja Gaj Singh II of Marwar – Jodhpur. 

2. Director - Princess Shivranjani Rajye and Alexandra de Cadaval.

3. Artistic Director - Alain Weber

For more details, please visit www.worldsacredspiritfestival.org  Unless stated all pictures copyright author. 

To see albums

1. Mehrangarh Fort

2. RIFF 2009

3. Umaid Bhawan Palace

4. Heritage Walk Mehrangarh Fort

5. Dhurries Jodhpur