Folk music extravaganza enthralls audiences Jaipur

Jaipur, Mar 11: Music lovers in Rajasthan had a festive time when many of them attended the ongoing 'Anunaad' -the National Folk Instrumental Festival- held at Jawahar Kala Kendra in Jaipur.

Over 150 folk instruments were displayed in the three-day-long festival, which started on Tuesday.

Artists from six states participated in the event to showcase rare and antique folk instruments of their respective states.

"I have 147 kinds of instruments. Out of these 147, I brought 85 kinds of kinds of instruments here. I haven't made these instruments. I discovered the instruments made by our ancestors. Like there is an instrument to catch sparrow sitting on a tree, far away," said Rikki Chatri, an artist from Bhilai, Chattishgarh.

The organizers said they received a good response from the audience.

"The objective of the festival is to showcase the folk instruments, primarily. In other events, like a dance show or a singing festival, instruments are in background and the focus is on the dancer or the singer, and not on the instrument. We wanted to introduce these instruments to the public," said Rajeev Acharya, organizer of the festival.

According to the participants, the Anunaad festival was the only one which gave them an opportunity to showcase their instruments and talent.