The Festival
Heritage Festival
As the festive season approaches, a gentle nip returns to the air, and the atmosphere begins to smell like celebration. The heritage town of Dundlod comes alive to welcome you to Singing Sands — a folk music and cultural festival unlike any other.
Set in a centuries-old fortress, in a village where time gently pushed, Singing Sands offers something rare — an unfiltered, deeply rooted experience of Rajasthan’s culture.
Each year, the festival brings people together to celebrate heritage and stories under open skies – far from blinding lights and sky-touching buildings, wrapped in echoes of tradition, and moments of togetherness.
Guests sit beneath starlit skies with a kulhad of masala chai or a glass of wine, as folk melodies drift through around them. Many join in for a jig as the foot-tapping music takes over.
They meet artisans whose stories and smiles stay with them and try their hand at the crafts of the desert. They enjoy home-style Rajasthani meals, served with warmth and tales – best relished with their hands (a pro tip quickly picked up).
Attendees wandered through Dundlod’s lanes and bylanes, soaking in frescoes and fading walls and pause to greet the majestic Marwari horses at the stud farm just outside the village.
Singing Sands is not just a festival – it is a feeling, rooted and unforgettable.
Music & Dance
Music and dance at Singing Sands comes from, well, the sands… authentic, unalloyed, and unplugged. Musicians from rooted communities, who have passed down this heritage from one generation to another for centuries, perform at the most unpretentious and dreamy settings in and around the historic fort.
Hands-on Experiences
Guests engage in hands-on music and craft sessions with experts, trying their hands at indigenous instruments like the morchang, bhapang, nagada, and khartal. While some sway to the high-energy rhythms of Kalbeliya music, others explore traditions like turban-tying and painting maandana, the intricate folk murals of Rajasthan.
Traditional Crafts
A constellation of local yet traditional artisans showcase their hand-crafted masterpieces. Guests spend time with them, understand the intricacies of their crafts and listen the fascinating stories.
Heritage Walks
A relaxed walk through the by-lanes of history & architecture of Shekhawati invite visitors to discover the story of its people, their enterprise, and their havelis in Dundlod village.
Storytelling Sessions
Engaging narratives unfold the history of Dundlod Fort, the Shekhawati trade routes, and the living traditions of its music, crafts, food, and artistes and their centuries-old traditions – each tale woven seamlessly into the festival experience.
Traditional Delicacies
Local recipes prepared by expert hands form an essential part of the festival experience. These dishes are authentic yet balanced in flavor – wholesome and made with love to suit every palate.
Stud Farm Visit
Guests visit Dundlod’s world-renowned stud farm to learn about the magnificent indigenous Marwari horses – listening to the fascinating stories and discovering what made them the best horses on the planet.
Culture / Experience
Culture / Experience
RAAG
MALHAR
RAAG MALHAR
Concerts under the stars by musicians from the desert
- Late evening concerts on Friday & Saturday
- Music & dance concerts by renowned artistes from folk communities
- Intimate concerts with relaxed seating under the stars, in the most amazing settings
TORAN
CHHATRI
TORAN CHHATRI
An enchanting walk through history & architecture of Shekhawati
- Leisurely walk around the village covering heritage locations
- The beautiful world of Shekhawati architecture & frescos
- History of Shekhawti, story of its people, their enterprise and their havelis
TAANA
BANA
TAANA BANA
Discover traditional crafts with fun activities
- Craft display and stories
- Interactions on indigenous crafts
- DIY craft sessions
SAANGRI
SAANGRI
Enjoy local flavors and engaging workshops
- Food is on-the-house 🙂
- Authentic local & traditional delicacies
- Food stories & workshops
THAAP
THAAP
Sing along with the sands
- Discover the beautiful world of Rajasthan’s indigenous musical instruments
- Learn to play the morchang, the bhapang, the khartal, and the nagara from the experts
- Dance like a Rajasthani! Learn the Traditional Kalbelia Dance.
NAAL
NAAL
A morning with the free-spirited Marwari Horses
- Visit the world-renowned Dundlod stud farm
- Learn about the famous Marwari horses
- Understand their upkeep, food and training
ALL experiences and attractions are INCULDED in the Festival Pass. The festival kicks off early Friday evening and wraps up by Sunday morning.
Programme
Concerts
& Artisans
Programme Schedule
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3:30 pm
Padharo!
Welcome & Registration
-
4:00 pm
Sur-aarambh
Opening Concert by Sumitra Kamad & group
at the Durbar Hall -
5:00 - 5:45 pm
Chai-Pani
Don’t worry, it includes Nashta as well ☺
-
6:00 pm
Kahani Unsuni
That was 1750 – The Story of Dundlod
A Talk by Thakur Raghuvendra Singh Dundlod at the Durbar Hall -
7:00 - 8:30 pm
Jeeman
Dinner at the The Rasoi Deck
-
9:00 - 11:30 pm
Sounds of the Soil
A series of magical performances
Gen Alpha Manganiars
at Angori MahalTuginath - Shanti devi & Group
at TaramandalKatha Vaachan by Ghevaram & Group
At Rawla Chowk -
03:30 - 08:30 pm
All Day Jalsa
Kathputli
String Puppets of RajasthanJaadugar
Street Magician ShowBahuroopia
Traditional ImpersonatorCraft Bazaar
Explore the finest crafts from artists and artisans
-
10:30 - 11:30 am
Thaap Workshops
Learn from the artists themselves. Try your hand at traditional folk instruments or learn to shake-a-leg the Kalbeliya way… pick the workshop of your choice.
1. Khartaal
2. Bhapang
3. Nagara
4. Morchang
5. Kalbeliya Dance -
11:45 - 01.00 pm
Say Hi to Himmat, Badal, Heera and others!
Meet the majestic Marwari horses at the world renowned Dundlod Stud Farm.
-
1.30 - 2:30 pm
Jeeman
Lunch at the The Rasoi Annexe / The Rasoi Deck
-
2:45 - 3:30 pm
Taana-Bana Workshops
Learn from the artists themselves. Try your hand different art-crafts… pick the workshop of your choice.
1. Mandana
2. Glass Mosaic toys
3. Calligraphy
4. Turban Tying -
3:45 - 5:30 pm
Toran-Chhatri
A fascinating Heritage Walk around Dundlod… its wells, havelis, cenotaphs, temples with Shekhawati Heritage Expert, Arvind Sharma
-
5:30 - 6:15 pm
Chai-time
-
6:15 - 7:00 pm
Kair-Sangari
Food Stories from Shekhawati
-
7:00 - 7:30 pm
Workshop Dobara
Want to try your hand at something again? Let us know and we’ll organise it for you.
-
7:30 - 8:30 pm
Jeeman
Dinner at the The Rasoi Annexe / The Rasoi Deck
-
9:30 - 11:00 pm
Stars. Sand. Magic.
A series of mesmerising performances… some unseen music forms and some popular ones… and a fusion too.
-
10.30 - 8.30 pm
All Day Jalsa
Kathputli
String Puppets of RajasthanJaadugar
Street Magician ShowBahuroopia
Traditional ImpersonatorCraft Bazaar
Explore the finest crafts from artists and artisans
-
9:00 - 10:00 am
Su-prabhat
Kahat Kabir
-
10:00 am
Kaleva
That’s Breakfast 🙂
-
11:00 am
Ram-Ram
We don’t say good bye!