Jaipur: A cold evening, the vibrant Shilpgram set as a world of wildlife, and amidst it, an audience swaying to soulful melodies—this was the scene at Jawahar Kala Kendra on Friday. The occasion was the second day of the Jaipur Tiger Festival, organised by Rajasthan Heritage, Art & Cultural Foundation in association with Jawahar Kala Kendra. The evening came alive with the much-loved young artist Raahgeer, who has emerged as a favourite among the youth. With his original songs and poetry, he won immense applause from the audience.
Raahgeer’s compositions like “Hath mein guitar, peeth par basta hai…”, “Jaahilon ka koi shehar nahi, kya Jaipur kya Delhi…”, and the widely loved lines “Ye jo hans rahi hai duniya meri nakaamiyon pe…” highlighted life’s simplicity and truth. His rendition of “Kanya re Manya re Kur, Chala Jodhpur” introduced listeners to the beauty of Rajasthani culture and relationships. Art lovers of all ages were seen enjoying his performance. The hall turned serene when he sang “Mere gaon aaoge”, and he also received admiration for Rajasthani tracks such as “Amlido” and “Gorbandh.” With his unique style, Raahgeer captivated the entire gathering.
Festival President Sanjay Khawad shared that the Jaipur Tiger Festival is attracting a large number of visitors eager to explore wildlife up-close while enjoying engaging entertainment. The day began with a yoga session conducted by Swasthya Kalyan Yoga College, offering participants a refreshing mind-body balance. This was followed by an engaging storytelling session by Neeraj Chandra, featuring jungle safari and tiger tales that captured listeners’ interest. Arunya Prashar delivered a sensitive message on “Ethical Safari” through poetry and performance, while Uma Joshi narrated inspiring Panchatantra stories related to tigers.
In the afternoon, Darsh Peswani energised the audience with a powerful drumming performance. The live painting session witnessed enthusiastic participation from students of various schools. RPS Siddhant Sharma highlighted the importance of tiger conservation in his storytelling session. Vice President Sarveksh Agrawal informed that the festival also featured a live painting segment with active student involvement. A stamp exhibition curated with the support of the Philatelic Society of Rajasthan has also been set up for visitors. Organising Committee Member Shubham Agrawal added that lucky draw coupons are available for visitors—by dropping them in the installed letter box at Shilpgram, they stand a chance to win exciting prizes including a bike, refrigerator and TV. The best photographs clicked at the festival will be awarded. A rare tiger sketch by 20th-century iconic artist Amrita Sher-Gil has become a major highlight, along with a painting by M.F. Husain that is attracting significant attention.
Tiger Conversations and Masterclass by Wildlife Filmmaker Subbaiah Nalla Muthu on Saturday
Festival Founder Patron Dhirendra Godha informed that on December 13, after yoga and storytelling sessions, a talk show will be held from 11 AM to 12 PM featuring wildlife filmmaker Subbaiah Nalla Muthu, photographer Aparupa De, and musician-singer Abhishek Ray. A book on tigers by Gaurav Nakra will also be launched. Abhishek Ray will conduct a discussion and storytelling session based on his book “Baagh”. After the Panchatantra session, from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM, Dr. Reela Hota and her team will present an Odissi dance performance, followed by a musical evening to conclude the day.