Rahis Bharti from Dhoad Band Making India Proud Globally with Rajasthani Folk Music

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Jaipur, Rajasthan [India]: Rahis Bharti and his Dhoad band making India proud

throughout the world with Rajasthan folk music will be soon performing in different parts

of the globe. He said, “If the situation of COVID-19 improves, then this summer Dhoad

Band will be performing live in Kaustinen Folk Festival in Finland, Festival Festim in

Portugal, Sziget festival Budapest – Hungary, Austria, Germany and in different cities

of France and Spain.”

Rahis Bharti, since childhood had a great liking for folk music of Rajasthan as it was in

his blood due to his family being in music for seven generations. Despite being born in a

poor family, he had dreamt big to introduce Rajasthani folk music to the entire world and

today his dream has translated into a proud success story. Hailing from Dhod village in

Sikar district of Rajasthan, Bharti 20 years ago set up his band named ‘Dhoad’. He took

the Rajasthani folk music across the world single-handedly and also gave opportunity at

the international level to local artists from Rajasthan. His journey from a small village of

Rajasthan to the international platform impressed a Frenchman Martine le Coz, who

decided to write a book on Bharti’s life. A book titled ‘Rajasthan’s heartbeat Rahis

Bharti’ is written in French and will be out soon come this year. A special place has been

given to Rajasthan’s culture and monuments in this 200-page book. Bharti said, “The book written in French will be translated into other languages.

He said, “I have performed over 2500 concerts and shows in more than 110 countries.

So far provided an international platform to around 700 local artists from Rajasthan and

empowering them for the last 20 years.”

“My objective is to bring local artists and dance forms of Rajasthan to the international

platform and get the recognition. I want to preserve the traditional and popularize folk

music worldwide and is appreciated all over,” he added. This reflects how a man, born

in a poor, simple and traditional family has contributed not only to the field of folk music

but also to the empowerment of local artists. It is because of the vision and mission of

Bharti that Rajasthani music is well known and liked by millions of people worldwide today.

Bharti during the COVID-19 pandemic played online concerts for doctors and nurses to

get out of stress and motivate them; pop-rock star of France Mathieu Chedid played

with Dhoad concert which was witnessed by more than 6 lakh people of France; Dhoad

played for all Non-Resident Rajasthanis around the globe for USA, Portugal, UK,

Australia, Dubai, Rajasthan Foundation, and Rajasthan Association UK. He has

financially supported hundreds of local artists and distributed food packets in small

villages and cities across Rajasthan during the pandemic.

He was recognized by UNESCO as ‘the Cultural Ambassadors of Rajasthan’ in Japan in

2019 for his outstanding contribution towards building bridges of friendship between

India and other countries. Led by Bharti, Dhoad has performed for the Welcoming

Ceremony of your Highness Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Paris in 2015 and in

Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee celebration in London, Former President of India

Honorable A.P.J Kalam Azad during his visit in Jaipur 2012 in Science Park.

Bharti created history when he performed in Disneyland Paris where an audience of

more than 5 million witnessed Indian music and dance performances. Bharti’s team

performed for 4 months in 2019 in Disneyland, becoming the first team to represent

India there. He is the creator and director of various programs performed by the

legendary Bollywood Masala Orchestra – Spirit of India, Jaipur Maharaja Brass Band,

and Chalaang – drummers of India. Other performances of DHOAD include the one for

the President of France François Hollande; for the Prime minister of France Édouard

Philippe;  Président of Croatia Ivo Josipovic in Croatia in 2013 and in the private

birthday party of Mick Jagger, the lead vocalist of the legendary rock band ‘The Rolling

Stones’. He has won many awards at national and international awards.