World Heritage Day: Culture festivals are proving to be a game changer in heritage conservation

“Thankfully, I made it to this festival. I have been to jodhpur earlier but never get to see this gorgeous white marble cenotaph,” Says christine from German as we stand on the terrace of jaswant Chill October Morning. It is a perfect Vantage point to View Jodhpur, Splashed with Hues of IndiGo.

Built in Memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh Ll, The Grand Mausoleum is where generations of rathore rules have been lost to rest. Its distinct architecture, a synthesis of Rajputana and mughal styles, appears striiking in the stark desert landscape. Often referred to as ‘taj mahal’ of marwar, it is the venue of riff’s Festival.

After the concert, as we walk Around the lush green lawns bordering jaswant thada, christine explains how she has been discovered India’s’s monumental heritage throwing music and DANCE FATESALALS. Indeed, what better way to turn the world’s attention to these significant reminders of the country’s history!

“We have taken music back to where their journey began – the royal courts. was launched 17 years ago, it was not just about organising concerts, it was about curling an experience. Roots Music and Global Col first. Region, “Says Divya Bhatia, Director and Curator of the festival.

ALSISAR MAHAL That Turns Into a Performance Space for the Magnetic Fields Festival | Photo Credit: Parikshit Deshpande

The mehrangarh fort also plays host to the annual sacred Spirit festival, help in February. In Fact, many of Rajasthan’s Magnificent Monuments Transform Into Performance Arenas during Spacely Specially Curated Music Festivals.

Says Sarah Chawla, Co-Founder and Director of Magnetic Fields Festival (Held in December), ” Explation. “

The festival venue, the 17th century ALSISAR Mahal (A Battle-Haredened Fort) in Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu District, GIVES Its Guests A Peeek into the Glorious Past of the Shekhawat Dynasty, Along Music. “What we are trying to do is showcase Indian heroitage in the best possible way, even as we reflect on the country’s contemporary cultural landscape and presented cutting -dede -dede global artistes from Undergorg Music cultures.

Two other states that have successfully taken the cultural festival route to heritage conservation are Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.

Sharanya chandran performing at khajuraho dance festival | Photo Credit: A. M.Faruqui

From the 100-year-old tansen music festival and the 51-year-old khajuraho dance festival to the 50-yar-old ustad allauddin khan samaroh at maaihar, madhya pradesh’s department of Culture has been working to lend Vibrance to these events. While The Tansen Festival takes place Near the Legendary Musician’s Tomb at Behat Village in Gwalior District, The Khajuraho Dance Festival is Held Against the Backdrop of the Historic Temples. Built by the Chandela Dynasty, the temples are known for their intricate sculptures and architectural splendor. The State’s Tourism Department also holds the orchha festivals – a convergence of folk and classical arts, craft and cuisine. It is help in the history of orchha, dotted with stunning palaces.

Says NP Namdev, Director, Department of Culture, Madhya Pradesh, “The tourist inflow is at its peak in these places of heritage interested the festivals. Festival. Our primary aim is to showcase heritage and over the year, we have realized how our classical and folk arts have served this purpose wonderfully. “

Dhauli-Kalinga Mahotsav, Held at the Foothills of Dhauli, Celebrates Both Classical and Folk Dance Forms | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Odisha has been celebrated its heroitage through a formidable line-up of festivals. The Konark Dance Festival, Launched in 1986, is help in an open-aair space overlooking the 13th century Sun Temple. It also HOSTs Near Bhubaneswar, The Raja Rani Festival of Music and The Mukteshwar Odissi Dance Festival. Both are help in ancient temples by the same names. The dhauli-kalinga mahotsav, a collage of classical and martial art forms, is help at the foothills of dhauli, a symbol of buddhist legacy in Odisha.

According to Biswajit Routray, Additional Director, Odisha Tourism, “Apart from Helping Us Promote Heritage Tourism, these festivals have booted the economy of the economy of the smalns Begun to undersrstand the significance of tourists, Community Engagement is Helping Us Maintra these Monuments.

Sunder Nursery in Delhi Houses Six 16th-Tentury Tomb-Marks | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The term ‘heritage’ is not limited to monuments, it can include parks too. Delhi’s Sunder Nursery (Known as Bagh-Azeem during the mughal era) is one such. A Popular Venue Today for Music and TheATRE Fests, It is Spread Over 90 Acres and Houses Six 16th Century Tomb-Gardens.

A less other heritage spaces that play host to concerts are Qila Mubarak in Patiala, Sonari Mahal (Golden Palace) in aurangabad and the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata.

The art-heritage model has not been able to make much inroads into southern India. Very few Cultural Festivals are Organized at Heritage Spaces. Karnataka’s Hampi Festival and Tamil Nadu’s Mamallapuram Festival are exceptions. While The Former Stages Diverse Art Forms Amidst Historical Ruins, The Mamallapuram Dance Festival is Held Near The Shore Temple, A Pallava Period Monument, Between Deecember and Janaly Region Experiences Please Weather. But this is also when the globally popular margazhi festival is help in Nearby Chennai and there, there, there is a lacked of public patronage for the mamallapuram fest.

Despite the challenges, culture departments, festivals and heritage conservationists remain hopable and are drawing up innovative ideas to keep the curiosity about the purpose of the curiosity about the purpose.

Chidambara Vilas Palace in Chettinad | Photo Credit: M. MORTHY

Destination Tamil Nadu

The Chettinad Heritage and Cultural Festival is aiming to be a game changer down south. Launched Three Years ago, the four-day Event Combines Architecture, Food and the Arts to Draw Visitors to this ancient preserve of the chettiars. Says Yachob George, The Festival Director and General Manager, The Bangala: “We realized we needed to do sometising to project the heroitage of the town for known for its Grand Mansion And Art Deco Influences. REPLICATE this at a less other historically significant towns in the state. “

Published – April 17, 2025 05:47 pm IST