A Heritage Retreat in the Desert
Rajasthan, India, 22 September 2025: Dancing Peacock, the Jaipur-based cultural enterprise celebrated for curating immersive heritage and musical experiences, is bringing back the Singing Sands Heritage Festival for its second edition from October 10 to 12, 2025.
Hosted at the 275-year-old Dundlod Fort in the Shekhawati region, the two-day festival blends music, craft, and storytelling with Rajasthan’s desert charm, creating an intimate cultural retreat unlike any other.
Highlights of the 2025 Edition
After a successful debut in 2024 that drew visitors from across India and overseas, the festival returns this year with a more close-knit and boutique format, emphasizing participation over spectacle.
Special highlights include:
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A workshop with folk instrument makers, bringing visitors closer to the roots of Rajasthani music.
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A visit to the world-renowned Dundlod Stud Farm of Thakur Raghuvendra Singh (Bonnie Bana).
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Horse safaris across the sweeping desert landscape.
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Traditional desert camp experiences with music and storytelling under the stars.
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A guided tour of a restored haveli-turned-museum showcasing Shekhawati’s artistic heritage.
Set within Dundlod Fort, built in 1750 by Thakur Kesari Singh, the venue itself becomes an integral part of the experience. The fort, still a royal residence, embodies Rajput-Mughal architectural fusion and offers an evocative backdrop for music, crafts, and living traditions.
Voices Behind the Festival
Festival Producer Naveen Tripathi shared:
“Singing Sands is imagined as a boutique heritage festival; intimate, immersive, and rich with cultural experiences. At Dundlod Fort, music, crafts, and stories unfold within courtyards and havelis, creating a retreat that feels both exclusive and deeply engaging. Every performance and workshop is designed to draw people closer to Rajasthan’s living traditions, not as spectators but as participants.”
Festival Director Vinod Joshi added:
“What makes Singing Sands unique is the way traditions and settings come alive together. A folk singer in a haveli courtyard, a sarangi blending with global instruments, or the discovery of unseen crafts against mesmerizing architecture are experiences that cannot be recreated elsewhere. The festival is as much about connecting with artists as it is about the performances. With its storytelling walks and feasts under starlit skies, Singing Sands becomes a cultural getaway unlike anything in a conventional setting.”
A Festival of Inclusivity and Tradition
The festival also shines a spotlight on women artists and artisans, ensuring inclusivity and representation across performances and workshops. Meals are crafted from regional recipes, giving visitors an authentic taste of Rajasthan. Families are encouraged to participate, with free entry for children under 12, making the festival accessible to younger audiences eager to experience cultural traditions firsthand.
This second edition of Singing Sands is more than just a festival—it is an invitation to live and breathe Rajasthan’s artistry, stories, and traditions in an authentic and personal way.
About Dancing Peacock
Dancing Peacock specializes in creating immersive folk music, dance, and craft experiences for global events, weddings, and festivals. Since 2020, the company has collaborated with over 10,000 artists, curated cultural showcases for landmark occasions including the G20 Sherpa Meet and the visit of the US Vice President, and produced acclaimed festivals such as Singing Sands and Hawa Mahal.
In recognition of its impact, Dancing Peacock received the Silver Award for “Signature Event of the Year” at the EEMAX Global Awards 2025.
