Jodhpur RIFF 2026. Venue: Zenana Courtyard. Entry: Full Festival pass/ Day Pass. Mainstage opens with the mother- daughter duo Ganga & Sundar, guardians of a centuries old oral tradition of Rajwadi maand. Ganga started learning music from her mother, Sundar, when she was five. Sundar, in turn, learned from her father. Hailing from the Rao community of Pali, this mother-daughter duo is known for their enduring work in breaking gender and social norms by reclaiming their space in a male dominated folk music landscape. They are widely known for their renditions of traditional spiritual songs in their own inimitable style. Performing with them is Mohini Devi, senior vocalist from the jogi Kalbeliya tradition. Mohini ji is among the few women continuing the older Jogi musical repertoire, a tradition increasingly overshadowed by the internationally recognised kalbeliya dance form. She is known for her strikingly high-pitched voice that can match the register of the pungi, and her extensive knowledge of the Rajasthani maand. Ashwini Bhide Padma Shri awardee Ashwini Bhide- Deshpande is a distinguished vocalist of the Jaipur-Atrauli Khayal Gayaki tradition. Hailed as an exceptional talent among the "new generation of veterans" she brings both reverence and fresh insight to Hindustani music. Her oeuvre is deeply introspective, often an adventurous journey into the complex ragas distinctive to her gharana - compositions so rare and demanding that few vocalists dare to venture into them. Although firmly rooted in khayal, Ashwini ji is equally adept in lighter forms like Thumri- Dadra, Bhajans, Abhangs, and Sanskrit stutis/stotras, many of which she accompanies with compositions of her own. Her concerts are marked by thoughtful artistry, a warm stage presence, and the rare ability to make even the most intricate music deeply accessible. Camila y Silvio One of the most celebrated duos in contemporary Latin American folk music, Camila y Silvio have built a sonic universe firmly rooted in nature, ancestry and community. Their performances are an opportunity to witness rare instruments like the charango- a curious string instrument traditionally made from the shell of an armadillo, and the legüero- a large drum carved out of a hollowed tree trunk and covered with animal hide and fur, often alluded to as "the beating heart of the earth". Together, they bring a warm and infectious energy to music steeped in the folklores of the zamba, chacarera and cumbia traditions of South America. Their instruments are just as rooted in the land and life of Latin America. This is Camila y Silvio's premiere festival appearance in India Ilham In true sufiyana style Ilham (intuition or divine inspiration) is a unique qawaali performance, a musical coming together of many Indian traditions that share common spiritual roots. Smita Bellur is a highly accomplished female vocalist accepted into the lineage of traditional qawaals, under the tutelage of the Warsi Brothers of Hyderabad, and brings over two decades of Hindustani music training in Khayal and her expertise in sufi mystic poetry. Accompanied by SAZ - the exceptional trio from Rajasthan's Langa community, whose own folk repertoire has carried the words of Sindhi sufi and nirguna spiritual traditions for centuries across the sands of western Rajasthan, Smita's classical rigour and her profound understanding of sufi kalam meets the earthy sounds of Asin Khan's Sindhi sarangi, Sadiq Khan's dholak and Zakir Khan Langa's harmonium, to create a robust and profound musical experience.