Divya Bhatia, Director of RIFF this year, calls the festival, a larger process of promoting folk art through community participation. “By making clips of the festival and floating them around the globe, will give the folk artists an edge in many aspects,” specifies Bhatia.

The festival will have Shubha Mudgal performing at the opening night. Another highlight, of the festival is the event where two maestros, a folk and a classical artist are playing together. Ustad Sultan Khan, a classical Sarangi player from Jodhpur plays with Lakha Khan, a Manganiyar who is a folk artist.

Ace Beat Boxer and Composer Jason Singh from UK and singer songwriter Bex Mather will perform with Rajasthani folk artists, after exhaustive rounds of practice. Among the other highlights of the festival, is a gypsy band from Hungary. Also, there are Jazz artists from United States and Netherlands who are sharing tunes with the folk artists of Rajasthan. “It is interesting to note that many Gypsy artists trace their background from Rajasthan,” avers Bhatia.

Calling RIFF, a truly international event, Bhatia claims that the festival has artists from Netherlands, France, Hungary, UK and Spain. Artists, like Maand singers, Kawwal from Ajmer Sharif, Sarangi and Pungi players will perform at the event.

“We have 140 folk artists from Rajasthan. Almost 11 distinct communities related to folk art will be part of the festival. Communities, traditionally related to folk, such as Langas, Manganiyars, Kalbeliyas would be in all colours, apart from the Meghwals, who are known for their Nirgun traditions,” elaborates Bhatia.

Calling RIFF, a rare opportunity for the folk artists to get foreign assignments, Bhatia said, this festival would help the Rajasthani artists to get platform in foreign lands such as Netherlands, to perform with the Dutch artists. “This event also provides income to the artists performing at the festival. Their interaction, with foreign artists get them work from abroad, and eventually a new source of income,” Bhatia explains.