Art, Music & Healing: Vedaaranya's Trifecta Of Experiences
In this exclusive interview, Dr Shruti Nada Poddar talks to Everything Experiential as she delves into the vibrant tapestry of the Vedaaranya Heritage and Healing Festival. Poddar shares the highlights of the festival, showcasing renowned artists and performers. The festival has become a catalyst for community collaboration, promoting local talents and providing a platform for cultural exchange. Poddar reveals the future plans for the festival, promising an even more immersive edition in 2025, blending heritage, art, music and healing.
Excerpts:
What are the highlights of the Vedaaranya Heritage and Healing Festival?
Ans. In 2024, the highlights included ‘Meera’ - A naatya katha by Padma Vibhushan, Dr Sonal Mansingh, Member of Parliament, ‘Tridhara’ - An enchanting showcase – with three dance styles by Padma Shree, Vidushi Geeta Chandran, Satish Gupta’s live calligraphy performance - with Shruti Nada Poddar’s Shiva chants and poetry, ‘East Meets West’, a musical sitar-cello Jugalbandi by Pandit Shubhendra Rao and Maestro Saskia Rao De Haas, Rajasthani Sufi and folk music by Mirs of Rajasthan and Ramgarh Shekhawati Heritage Tours.
The fest in 2024 highlighted the re-discovery and resurgence of the heritage of this unique town, with very high-quality music, art and dance performances every evening.
What kind of activities can visitors expect at the Vedaaranya Heritage and Healing Festival?
Visitors can expect village healing nuskhas where they can learn about local ayurvedic recipes and health solutions with local Ramgarh experts, nagara beats experience at the ancient Shiva temple, street foods of Ramgarh Shekhawati and evening haveli courtyard experiences. We also conduct multiple kinds of workshops, these include craft workshops, music workshops and addas, upcycled crafts workshops with Shekhawati women and workshops for local recipes for skin care and health remedies among more.
What kind of food and beverages will be available at the Vedaaranya Heritage and Healing Festival?
At Vedaaranya, visitors can indulge in authentic and lavish Rajasthani cuisine - with an array of local delicacies and mouthwatering savouries and sweets freshly made in-house and from local and world-renowned food caterers based at Ramgarh Shekhawati.
What kind of impact has the Vedaaranya Heritage and Healing Festival had on the local community?
Not only has the local community become collaborators for the festival but many benefits have naturally emerged for the community such as the participation of students at every festival. We see women often participating as festival coordinators and managers.
The festival also enables the promotion of local crafts persons and local artists. Vedaaranya highlights local cuisine from local vendors while training locals to execute large-scale events. Interpersonal interactions between delegates and participants from across the world with our local communities give them exposure.
What are your future plans for the Vedaaranya Heritage and Healing Festival?
The next Vedaaranya Heritage and Healing Festival will be held from 7-10 February 2025. Its exclusivity will be the Shekhawati Haveli living, reliving past glory and stories through the painted walls of Ramgarh Shekhawati, world-class performances across the heritage sites of Shekhawati, courtyard musical baithaks, talks and discussion addas.
The festival will also feature close interactions with the finest artists, global and local craft demos and workshops giving an interactive experience with the best performers from across the world and local artists in the ambience of the beautifully adorned havelis, a legacy of one of the richest towns of Shekhawati, the land with a unique historical significance of cultural patronage and bring it back to life.
Additionally, healing workshops, food workshops, specially curated Heritage Walks through the intensely painted streets with havelies, chhatries and temples of the heritage town, cultural learnings and above all, a chance to experience the local community, foods and crafts.
