MUMBAI: Come 21 October and music lovers will flock to Jodhpur to be mesmerised by an army of musicians who will fill the air with euphony, performing at the five day annual Rajasthan International Folk Festival (RIFF).

Attracting music aficionados from all over the world, this music festival which begun in 2007, has also been rated amongst the top 25 music festivals in the world. It stands for the cause of preserving and promoting local music and the unique all musician communities/villages that Rajasthan has, the Meghwals, Langas, Manganiars and several more.

Set at the backdrop of 500 year old Mehrangarh fort, the festival is an amalgamation of Indian folk sound along with international bands and acts from all over the world, where Hindustani classical music melded with folk and gypsy music will create many hybrid forms ranging from Maand, all the way to Flamenco.

The coveted musicians scheduled to perform this year include the local Rajasthani Ustaads, singer Sona Mohapatra, Jamuna Devi, Ustad Bahauddin Dagar and classical maestro like Ashwini Bhide Devi who will bring the Indian flavour along with international musicians including Brazian DJ's, African musicians and UK bands. British Tamil singer Susheela Raman, percussionist Pete Lockett, DJ Maga Bo from Brazil and gypsy-jazz guitarist Augustin Carbonell will also entharll the audience with their musical prowress.

Says singer Sona Mohapatra, "We are a dynamic, young band that likes to emphasise the rootsy grooves and soul that most contemporary Indian acts tend to conservatively avoid, so expect to be surprised and expect to move! Also, the mystical music I sing will have a unique feminine and different perspective altogether." The singer along with band will pay homage to the mystics like Bulleh Shah, Kabir, Ameer Khusro and Mirabai apart from rendereings from her previous albums. She is also loking forward for jams and exchange of energies with three astonishing Rajasthani women artistes who sing three different genres, Rajwaadi ki Maand with Suraiya, Lok geet with young Roshni and the Diva, Force of Nature, Bhavanri Devi who sings the ancient texts in the Bhopa-Bhopi tradition.

"This festival couldn't have come at a better time, as we have to create awareness and help preserve our astounding musical traditions, which are threatened by the rapidly changing social order. Our music is our cultural heritage and it must not become a victim of our modern aspirations. One only hopes that such festivals spring up in every other Indian state's as well. More live music, more "musical journeys", both local and international!!," says Sona.

The Jodhpur RIFF which is a joint initiative of the Mehrangarh Museum Trust and the Jaipur Virasat Foundation has Mick Jagger, Sting and Maharaja Gaj Singh of Jodhpur as its patrons, who are also slated to be in the audince.