It’s a royal Diwali at DLF Emporio and Indri, India’s finest single malt is saying cheers to that. My labour of love, Royal Fables, celebrates a royal Diwali with a two-day exposition held at Setz, DLF Emporio, on 14 and 15 October, 2022 and the high point of the moment is a dinner which is a jugalbandi between royal cuisine and Indri whiskey.
With a series of interesting elements orchestrated for the forthcoming exposition, the platform adds many new heritage stories to the show. Showcasing 51 fantastic fables, the 12-year-old platform creates a veritable visual feast for heritage lovers with textiles, folk and royal art, wild life paintings, hand craft, jewellery, music and royal cuisine.
Under its culinary platform Kitchen of the Kings, Royal Fables presents the culinary fable of Nawab Kazim Ali Khan of Rampur {Avadh}, Kanwarani Vijaya Singh Sirmaur {Himachal} and Thakur Shivraaj Singh of Limdi {Panch mahal and Mewari}. All paired with the three distinct notes of Indri whiskey.
The textile tale this year gets enriched with the celebration of poshaks as created in heritage studios of Rani Jaykirti Singh Baria, Occhre, Aaraish from Sherkot and Geetanjali Shekhavat. Chiffons, a maharani’s staple returns in all its splendor with Just Chiffons, Preeti Singh Daspan and Sri Tana Bana. Master weaver Nirmal Salvi brings in his stunning patolas as the splendor of Varanasi looms gets recreated by Rajkumari Alka Rani, Sri Tanabana, Kalyani and Sree by Shrishti. Art transcends into clothes with Pratham creating sarees with Pichwai art hand painting and Rani Sunita Singh of Khajurgaon recreates florals in fabric painting.
Committed to presenting the finest art, Princely India has to offer, Royal Fables brings, for the first time, Basoli art created by master artists under the artistic patronage of Jyotsana Singh at Amar Mahal Museum and Library, Jammu & Kashmir. A reputed school of miniature paintings known for its vivid, evocative colors, bold lines, and deep-set facial patterns; it is being conserved under the caring patronage of the royal family. Named after Basholi, a town in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, India, it was founded by Raja Bhupat Pal in the 16th century.
In art as well comes in Ajay Singh Peelwa who is not just a conservationist but also paints his beloved horses and Cheetahs on canvas. He brings with him a special Cheetah painting which will be unveiled by Maharaj Kumar Ranjit Sinh of Wankaner, the man who is instrumental in bringing the cheetah to India. Pichwai art by Princess Vaishnavi Kumari of Kishangarh recreates the romanticism of the era of art brought alive by her ancestor the poet king Nagari Das in the 18th Century.
Aulerth jewelry is finessed in design, brought to life with fine jewelry craftsmanship, which gets create in partnership with leading fashion designers—currently partnered with: JJ Valaya, Suneet Varma, Tribe Amrapali, and Shivan & Narresh. Aulerth’s goal is to significantly reduce the destructive carbon footprint behind the jewelry.
Also, from Rampur comes Ustad Shakhawad Khan who is one of few, remaining singers who can sing compositions of the late Nawab Sir Raza Ali Khan of Rampur. Also filling the evening with their unique notes are Soul Diviners presenting music by Siddhant Bhatia and Keerthy Narayan who together take classical Indian notes to a new age trance realm. The highlight of the evening though is a heritage drive with Heritage Motoring Club of India that features 13 rare cars including the Maharani of Baroda’s 137 Rolls- Royce Phantom 3, coach built by Kellner, Paris.