Supriya

Gopal ji is clear about the tradition’s identity: “Chang Dhamal is a farmers’ thing,” he says, though he notes a quiet, hopeful shift as young girls in the village begin to take interest in the dance. He and his group, primarily from the Jaat community, have refined their craft into a synchronized spectacle, yet he worries about the modern era. In a world where eyes are often glued to screens and everything is measured by money, he strives to protect the original intent of the craft. For him, the Chang is about more than sound; it is about keeping brotherhood and communal love alive. Very few groups maintain the authentic spirit of the Shekhawati traditions like Gopal Geela and Party. This April, we celebrate Gopal Geela as our Artist of the Month as part of the Heritage Film Showcase by @studio.ainak in collaboration with @arya_niwas_hospitality Each month, we celebrate these masters to offer them the recognition they deserve. Through this initiative, each Artist of the Month receives an honorarium, a small gesture of honor and support for keeping these invaluable traditions alive.

Still holding onto the energy of this beautiful workshop ✨ Chang Dhamal, a vibrant folk tradition from Shekhawati, came alive at Maah Space with Gopal Geela & group. Through rhythm, movement, and stories, the workshop turned into a shared space of learning, listening, and moving together. @jaipurvirasat @supriyabcd ( chang dhamal, shekhawati folk, rajasthan culture, folk dance india, traditional arts, living traditions, maah space, jaipur art, community gathering, movement workshop, cultural exchange, folk rhythms, indian folk artists, heritage art, shared spaces, dance and culture, storytelling through movement, local artists, experiential learning, art community)

Let the music move you into a cultural trance with live Chang performance by Gopal Geela and Group. Experience the amazing moment only at Pearl Academy, Jaipur on 18 April, 2026, at 7:30pm. Image Credits: Deepak Yatri and Lok Utsav Tilonia 2026 Creatives - @arnav.png #pearlacademy #lifeatpearl #livemusic #jaipur #explorepage

Dariya Bai Manganiyar grew up in Bishala, 30 km from Barmer, listening to her father play the kamaicha. Inspired by her bua (her aunt), music found her early and never let go. Dariya Bai also taught music through community workshops, passing on songs that hold the wisdom, longing, and quiet strength of generations. Her voice reached millions when she lent it to the Bollywood film Padmaavat. “This is traditional wisdom carried forward for generations. The more people enjoy the music, the more it will continue.” Very few artists remain who know what Dariya Bai knows. Every performance she gives is a gift, and she loves giving it. Each month, we celebrate these artists as part of the Heritage Film Showcase in collaboration with Arya Niwas like we have Dariya Bai this month. Through this initiative, each Artist of the Month receives an honorarium, a small gesture of love for keeping these invaluable traditions alive. With Support from @supriyabcd

Some glimpses of Kashida Phool on 1st March as part of the Jaipur Queer Arts Exhibition by @q.social_ at @maahspace - a performance that has evolved across multiple editions, sparking conversations at the intersection of queerness, folk tradition, and community. Kashida Phool: Journeying with the Cross Dancers of Rajasthan Performed by Chaina @chainachainameena & Rakesh Meena @rakeshmeena3843 A theatrical folk performance exploring the past, present, and future of cross dancers from the Meena community of Rajasthan. As two male bodies transform into female dancers through the intimate act of undressing and dressing on stage, the performance weaves together themes of identity, gender fluidity, social roles, community, and family. Chaina and Rakesh tell their story of becoming cross dancers in their own voices - a journey of self-discovery rooted in folk tradition. Curated and facilitated by @kamakshisaxena @supriyabcd Shreeya Kishanpuria Supported by @jaipurvirasat @maahspace @q.social_ community @afdejaipur Photos by @_barely_naked

”Main jo karti, wo kyun karti?” कला सिर्फ़ देखने की चीज़ नहीं है, यह खुद को पहचानने का एक ज़रिया भी है। I believe in the power of stories to change lives. Today at the Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls School, we are witnessing local women artists take the stage to inspire the next generation of girls. Our goal is to nurture a space where women feel safe to express themselves and find their own voices. Watching this journey from a spark of thought to a bold expression is exactly what moves me to create. I’d love for you to be a part of this journey with us. Here are the program details: Day 1: Friday, March 6th Time: 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm Location: Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls School, Kanoi, Jaisalmer Access: Open for all. Come join us and witness the magic firsthand! Day 2: Saturday, March 7th Location: Rajasthan Fort and Palace Museum, Jaisalmer Fort Access: By Invite Only.

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Kashida Phool🌸 Journeying with the Cross Dancers of Rajasthan Performed by Chaina & Rakesh Meena A theatrical folk performance tracing the past, present, and future of cross dancers from the Meena community of Rajasthan. On stage, two male bodies transform into female dancers through the intimate act of dressing and undressing — revealing not just costume, but layers of identity, gender fluidity, social roles, family, and belonging. Through their own voices, Chaina and Rakesh share a deeply personal journey of becoming — rooted in folk tradition, yet alive with questions of self and community. 7:00 PM 1 March Maah Space Come witness a story where tradition and transformation move together.

The Bhatt women artists (Maya, Anju and Santosh) who guided this workshop told us: we could make these puppets without even looking, in the dark if we had to. That's how deep the knowledge lives - in our hands, our muscles, our memory. We talk about mastery, design, and sustainability. But they've been living it for generations. What we call "good design" today, they've practiced for centuries: nothing is wasted. Kathputli isn't just their craft - it's how their nomadic community has survived. It's radical reuse before we had a term for it: every puppet born from waste, evolving as new scraps arrive. This isn't just a craft. It's a living system. In ReThread, we barely scratched the surface. But watching participants disappear into the making, guided by these incredible women - something shifted. Their skills are priceless. Their resilience, necessary to learn from. Grateful to @jaipur.artweek and @jaipurvirasat for creating space for this exchange. Thank you @simran.kanwaria for beautifully documenting the workshop and giving birth to this reel. Rhea and @_jantabo for assisting. Workshop ideated and facilitated by @supriyabcd with @mayabhat889 , Anju and Santosh.

ReThread: Self-Portrait Kathputlis workshop with the Kathputli Artists at the @jaipur.artweek Colorful puppets hung from the ceiling. Kathputli artists performed stories from their basti. Then participants dove in: choosing wooden faces, sorting through fabrics, stitching, nailing, bringing their own puppets to life. For those few hours, everyone disappeared into the making. By the end, each person performed with their newly-born kathputli. Some hilarious, some moving, all completely unique. Guided by the women artists, we created self-portrait puppets from discarded materials: old clothes, broken jewelry, fabric scraps, plastic waste. The craft that's always reimagined leftovers helped us reimagine ourselves. Some super cool puppets were born that day. Grateful to @jaipur.artweek and @jaipurvirasat for holding and supporting this and all the curious participants (do let us know if you would like to tagged the photos.) Beautiful photographs by @simran.kanwaria and videos by @_jantabo . Workshop Assisted by Rhea & @ananyakauxik Workshop facilitated and ideated by @supriyabcd with Maya, Santosh, Anju & Poonam (Kathputli artists)

The Department of Psychology in collaboration with the Jaipur Virasat Foundation organised a Heritage Food Walk that offered students of Environmental Psychology a rich, immersive experience. Exploring heritage architecture alongside diverse traditional food varieties, students understood how spaces, culture, and cuisine shape human experience and behaviour. A perfect blend of history, environment and sensory learning🥗♻️✨ #iisuniversityjaipur #departmentofpsychology #foodwalk #jaipur #heritage

How Are Folk Instruments Adapting to Our Times? Looking back at this beautiful workshop from October 6th as part of @jodhpurartsweek It was intriguing to see participants responses as they moved beyond just hearing these instruments from a distance. For many, this was a rare opportunity to actually touch, feel, and learn to play instruments steeped in centuries of tradition. The resonance of these folk instruments, their material history, the stories they carry — everyone got completely lost in it. Guided by incredible artists including @mamtaa.sapera (on Khartal, Morchang & Bhapang), Papu Ram Bhopa (on Ravanhatta), Hussain Khan Langa @hussainkhanlanga077 (on Sarangi) and Puran Nath Ji (on Been), participants discovered the craftsmanship and deep connection these instruments have with nature and ecology. The hands-on segment guided by @wishallsing brought back our material memory — our hands remember Reimagining traditional instruments using recycled urban waste and natural materials, then jamming together alongside our folk artists. There's something profound about creating your own instrument and connecting with something that holds so much cultural memory. Grateful to @publicartstrustofindia team, @jaipurvirasat and every participant who dove into this experience. Workshop ideated & Facilitated by @wishallsing & @supriyabcd and assisted by @snehahahahahahahaha2002