As the sun goes down lending its waning, soft glow through stained glass windows, past ornate frescoes and grand courtyards, Rajasthan’s Alsisar Mahal transforms into a picture of serendipity. It leaves no hints whatsoever to the night that is to come, when hard techno will reverberate through the hallowed halls of the fort, which was rebuilt in 1954 after a bombing by the British.
Atop Badal Mahal — within the fort — characterised by its domes, an international music producer and DJ based in Delhi, Alboe, plays his quintessential blend of Indian sounds and electronic music. A soothing, perfect end to the day. Past serpentine stairways dotted with miniature paintings, at the Durbar Hall, is Rajasthani folk musician Moti Khan effectively stirring up a storm as a captivated audience transforms the hallowed space into an unlikely dance floor. At Magnetic Fields, every nook serves up a surprise. But one must be ready to rough it out in ‘bedouin tents’ sans insulation and sometimes, running hot water.
In its 11th edition, the recently concluded contemporary arts and music festival saw 6,000 people take over Alsisar Mahal for three warm days and (more so) extremely chilly nights. The festival is known for electronic and left-field soundscape, and this year was no different. Over seven stages inside Alsisar Mahal which is now a heritage hotel run by the eighth generation of Alsisar’s Shekhawati clan, and a designated camping area barely 100 metres away, the festival managed to draw in a mix of crowds: from loyal followers of electronica and first-time way finders to seasoned club crowds.
