The festival’s first day featured standout acts like the Sarangi Orchestra, Algerian blues-rock band Tiwiza, pop duo Sukriti-PrakritiKakar, and GRAMMY Award-Winner DobetGnahoré
Udaipur: The Vedanta Udaipur World Music Festival 2025 kicked off at Gandhi Ground with a diverse lineup, blending Indian folk, Bollywood melodies, and global rhythms, setting the tone for the three-day celebration. Supported by Hindustan Zinc Ltd. and the Department of Tourism, Government of Rajasthan, and conceptualised by SEHER, the festival offers free entry, making world-class music accessible to all and taking audiences on a musical journey across cultures.
Yaar Mohammad Langa and his Sarangi Orchestra opened the evening, highlighting Rajasthan’s folk traditions and the deep tones of the sarangi. Bringing a distinct North African flavor to the stage, Algerian blues-rock band Tiwiza followed with an energetic set infused with Berber and Chaâbi influences. Led by Sofiane Belaïd, their blend of rock and desert blues introduced the audience to the storytelling traditions of the Maghreb.
Adding a touch of Bollywood, pop duo Sukriti and PrakritiKakar engaged the crowd with their signature mix of film and contemporary pop music, infusing the night with high-energy beats and sing-along moments. The highlight of the evening was GRAMMY award-winner DobetGnahoré with an electrifying Afropop performance. Her commanding stage presence, dynamic dance moves, and pulsating rhythms had the audience on their feet, creating an unforgettable finale for day one.
Reflecting on the festival’s opening, Mr. Sanjeev Bhargava, Founder-Director, SEHER, said, “The first day truly captured the cultural diversity we are striving for with this festival. It showcased a seamless blend of global and Indian influences like Tiwiza, DobetGnahoré and Rajasthan’s native Sarangi Orchestra. This is what makes our festival unique, the bringing together of different musical worlds on one stage.”
Arun Misra, CEO, Hindustan Zinc said, “Music and culture have the unique ability to unite diverse perspectives into one beautiful rhythm. It was quite evident on Day 1 with global music being ensembled with Rajasthani folk music. At Hindustan Zinc and Vedanta, we promote music, art, and culture by empowering young talent with opportunities to grow and shine. This association reflects our commitment of transforming Zinc City – Udaipur into a global cultural capital, celebrating creativity and passion. It brings us immense pride to see this initiative evolve into a premier global music event, uniting talents from different countries come together at this platform and mesmerize the audience of Udaipur.”
With a spectacular start, the festival now moves into its second day, featuring performances across all three venues.
The Vedanta Udaipur World Music Festival will be held at three venues in Udaipur. Mornings at Manji Ka Ghat (Feb 8-9, 8-10 AM) will feature calm performances with views of City Palace and Jag Mandir. Afternoons at Fateh Sagar Paal (Feb 8-9, 3-5 PM) will have world music with romantic melodies. Evenings at Gandhi Ground (Feb 7-9, 6-10 PM) will host energetic performances to end each day.
Stay tuned for more music and unforgettable performances on day 2 and 3.
