The Jodhpur RIFF (Rajasthan International Folk Festival) is “India’s premiere international roots music festival of folk, indigenous, jazz, reggae, classical and world music”. It takes place every October around Sharad Poornima, the night of the brightest full moon in north India, in the intimate setting of the spectacular fifteenth-century Mehrangarh Fort.
Annually featuring more than 350 young and legendary musicians from Rajasthan, India and the world, the festival is a mix of free and ticketed daytime concerts and club nights, held from dawn to dawn. Over 3,00,000 concert goers have been treated to performances by more than 900 artists and ensembles from over 30 countries at the Jodhpur Rajasthan International Folk Festival since it began in 2007. Maharaja Gaj Singh II of Marwar-Jodhpur is Chief Patron of the Jodhpur RIFF, which takes place under the aegis of the Mehrangarh Museum Trust. The festival, which did not take place in 2020 and 2021 owing to the pandemic, returned in 2022.
The upcoming edition of the festival will be held between 2nd and 6th October 2025.
Check out more music festivals here.
How to reach Jodhpur
1. By Air: Jodhpur has its own domestic airport, which is located around 5 km from the city centre. Flights from New Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Udaipur and other important Indian cities serve Jodhpur on a daily basis. Cabs and autos are available outside the airport and can be hired to travel to any part of the city.
2. By Rail: Trains from New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Jaipur and several other cities serve the city of Jodhpur. Apart from regular express and mail trains, the luxurious Palace on Wheels also caters to Jodhpur city. Many local taxis are available outside the station, which can be availed to travel to any part of the city.
3. By Road: Direct buses from New Delhi and Jaipur make road connectivity with Jodhpur convenient. Government-run Volvo coaches as well as numerous private deluxe and luxury buses are available in this route. The road condition of Jodhpur Highway is quite good and therefore buses can be availed in this route.
Source: Goibibo
1. Comfortable walking shoes.
2. A shawl or jacket as the nights and early mornings can get nippy.
3. A sturdy water bottle, if the festival has refillable water stations and the venue allows bottles to be taken inside.
4. COVID packs: Hand sanitiser, extra masks and a copy of your vaccination certificate are things to keep handy.