In the heart of Rajasthan, lies the majestic Mandawa, a quaint Shekhawati town adorned with frescoes, tales and bearings of a regal era gone by. Known for its forts and havelis, this picturesque town provides travellers and visitors with a sense of discovery at every turn.

Not a bad place to kick-start your year then, right in the lap of Shekhawati royalty with Taalbelia, a four-day long multi-format festival to be held between January 26 and January 29, 2017.

Taalbelia, seeks to reinvent the wheel, as far as destination music festivals go with wider range of delectable music genres that usually don’t find a spot in the current crop of festivals. Four days, 3 stages and more than 30 acts promise the ideal combination of the comforts of a vacation immersed in music, arts & crafts, along with adventure, royal hospitality and gastronomic delights, unique to the belt.

Showcasing the majestic and equally magnetic charm of the Shekhawati region and its culture, this round the clock affair, will host 3 stages and thereby different genres of contemporary, classical and folk music to enthral the residents between two breathtakingly beautiful venues, namely Castle Mandawa and Desert Resort.

The roots of Rajasthan have travelled musically across the globe, transforming cultures and traditions with its nomadic vibe. Taalbelia lets you experience this vibe and a rich confluence of music and other art forms in a boutique environment. Taalbelia serves as a platform for multi-genre artists to come together and create magic!

Adventure laden activities, safaris, workshops and of course the music throughout the day revs up your spirits to take on the night as a new enigmatic and moving musical experience sets you up and the energy of EDM and underground music takes your spirits higher. From the heights of a royal castle, through the surface of an oasis, to a stroll into the desert, Taalbelia will take you on a journey at every step...

The Music

The music at Taalbelia boasts of specially curated sets featuring the likes of Indian Ocean with Grammy Award winning stalwarts such as Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and George Brooks (American saxophonist known for combining jazz and Indian classical music), Manganiyar Classroom by Roysten Abel, Ankur & Ghalat Family, Arambola, Arjun Vagale, Grain (DJ Set), Bhanwari Devi, Rapper Divine, Dualist Inquiry, Ghazi Khan & Anwar Khan Manganiyar, Nicholson, Parvaaz, Prateek Kuhad, Prem Joshua, Rajasthan Josh Group, Reggae Rajahs, Ritviz DJ Producer, Shadow & Light, Sid Vashi, Soulmate, Sound Avatar, When Chai Met Toast along with Sumitra (meera bhajans) and Sunita Amin (drupad) who will be featured in the early morning sessions.

Special collaborations are also a part of the billing at Taalbelia, such as the Shillong-based blues act Soulmate featuring the talented Anwar Khan (Manganiyar) among others, to be announced shortly.

Workshops

Taalbelia’s Pro-Life exquisite Workshops have a distinctive set of interactive sessions: stand behind the console jamming with the DJs, learn to play the Morchang, understand the rhythm of the khartaal, polish your shooting skills or potter around the potter’s wheel, get familiar with the beautiful horses at the royal stables. There’s also a crash course that teaches you to make the unique and signature Rajasthani Lac bangles and the options of sand surfing and dirt biking.

The sumptuous Shekhwati cuisine

Taalbelia’s Gourmet Fiesta will be home to food-lovers who wish to indulge in unique cuisine and authentic delicacies of Shekhawati and the region does boast of an array of fine culinary delights such as seasonal specials based on gram flour, dry vegetables, bajra and corn, hot raab(local soup) along with traditional favourites such as Kaachri Ki Lunji,pyaazki sabzi, gatta, pithod variations and of course the popular non-vegetation Shekhawati dishes which find a unique footing, in Rajasthani delicacies.

The menu however isn’t restricted to Rajasthani wonders, extending itself to world cuisines such as Middle Asian, Mangolian and Mexican specialities.

A word on the organisers

The magic and magnetism of Mandawa is all set resurge, as one of the most unique music festival initiatives is brought alive by India’s premier event and experiential marketing agency Event Crafter in joint collaboration with the Royal Family of Mandawa.

Event Crafter has been a pivotal stakeholder in promotion and experiential magnification of Rajasthan’s culture through its active involvement in initiatives similar to TAALBELIA for over a decade and half. It has created a signature mark of its own when it comes to organizing concept led initiatives.

The Shekhawati region of Rajasthan has awed historians, art followers and connoisseurs from all over the world. It was a key city that catapulted business and conserved timeless art during the Rajput period and its rich heritage still remains a source of pride for us all. Mandawa was the crowned citadel for Shekhawati. The glory of the land has frozen in time, its art; its music and its culinary finesse still mesmerize our senses. But, owing to the lack of conviction led initiatives; the city of Mandawa yearns to regain its erstwhile charm and magic, which Taalbelia seeks to change.

Keep a Track:

When: January 26 and January 29, 2017.

Where: Mandawa, Rajasthan, India

Click on the link below to watch the prelude video:

https://www.facebook.com/taalbeliafestival/?fref=ts