The two-day festival of World Tourism Day in Jaipur comes to an end

The two-day World Tourism Day celebrations in the city came to an end with a performance by Indian Ocean.For a city known for its hospitality and tourist attractions, the World Tourism Day celebrations had to be grand in Jaipur. The festivities, spread over two days, had everything from musical performances to heritage walks and talk shows.On day one of the extravaganza Jaipur By Nite, the city played host to a mix of celebrities, from actors to erstwhile royals of Rajasthan. Hosted at the picturesque Sarvatbhadra Chowk of City Palace, the event brought the royals of Udaipur, Jodhpur and Karauli on a single platform. The session, titled The Royal Talk Show, was moderated by Kabir Bedi, and discussed the contribution of erstwhile royals of the state in the current scenario, and ways to take the Rajasthan’s rich legacy forward, making it culturally, historically and economically stronger. This was followed by a performance by differently-abled dancers from a group called Ability Unlimited. Shibani Kashyap brought the evening to a close with her hit numbers, including Sajna Aa Bhi Ja.The second day was a music lover’s dream. It started with Pink City’s very own band, Kaafila. The group of acclaimed musicians and singers brought the charm of jazz music alive, and mixed it with Rajasthani flavours. Their opening act was Jaipur’s staple, Kesariya Balam. Setting the tempo for the evening, they presented another hit Ek Pal Chain Na Aawe, followed by the tune from the Titanic and Mora Saiyan Mose Bole Na. Soon after, the band switched to Sufi songs, as they sang Chhap Tilak, and concluded their performance with Duma Dum Mast Kalandar.Then, amid loud cheering and applause, Indian Ocean took the stage, and its members were obviously quiet taken by the beauty of Jaigarh Fort, where the event was happening. Rahul Ram took the mic, and said, “The ambience is giving this event such a beautiful feel. We are so lucky that we’ve been here since noon, exploring the beauty of Jaipur from different corners of the fort. Now it’s time for you to feel the energy with us.” Famous for their unique style of music, the band began with Gar Ho Sake Toh Koi Shamma Jalaye from their new album Tandanu. When the audience started chanting ‘Kandisa, Kandisa’, the band performed its most famous track, without keeping Jaipurites waiting for long. The same evening, as part of these celebrations, renowned Hindustani classical singer Parveen Sultana also performed at Central Park.