8th Edition of Rajasthan Kabir Yatra to be Held in Bikaner

The 8th edition of the Rajasthan Kabir Yatra, India’s longest travelling folk music festival, will take place from October 1–5, 2025, in Bikaner and neighbouring villages Kelan, Chhattargarh, Kalu and Katariasar. An initiative of the Malang Folk Foundation, the Yatra celebrates the timeless poetry of mystics such as Kabir, Mira Bai, Bulleh Shah, Amir Khusrau and Shah Latif, while providing a powerful platform for Rajasthan’s folk artists.

Rajasthan Kabir Yatra is a travelling spiritual journey where music, storytelling, satsang and community life come together. Beginning in the city and moving into the heart of villages, the Yatra is hosted entirely by local communities, making it a unique, community-driven celebration of cultural revival, unity and shared humanity. To date, the Yatra has covered over 100 villages in more than 14 districts of Rajasthan.

This year’s edition opens on October 1 in Bikaner with Santa Ra Awarna – A Tribute to Saints and Poets, a soulful ensemble of young Kabir folk singers from Rajasthan. This will be followed by a live concert by acclaimed Sufi singer Kavita Seth and Whirling Dervishes by Louise Rose. The Yatra will then travel to Kelan on October 2 with performances by Arun Goyal, Raitila Rajasthan, Mir Razak Ali, Abdul Jabar, Vasu Dixit and Mehfil-e-Sama – Kabir in Qawwali. On October 3, Chhattargarh will host singers including Dayaram Sarolia, Vasu Dixit, Rama Kumari and Mira Bai of the Saansi community. The caravan then moves to Kalu on October 4, featuring Vedanth Bhardwaj, Kelam & Dariya, Rama Kumari, Padma Shri Kaluram Bamaniya, fusion band Kabir Café and Mooralala Marwada from Kutch in Gujarat. The Yatra concludes on October 5 in Katariasar, the birthplace of Jasnath Ji, with performances by Padma Shri Kaluram Bamaniya, Waqar Ali, Mooralala Marwada, Vedanth Bhardwaj and Kabir Café.

With more than 250 yatris from India and overseas travelling together alongside folk musicians, Sufi singers, storytellers and contemporary bands, each evening under the desert sky becomes a satsang—a space of devotion, reflection and community. The Bikaner district administration, under District Collector Namrata Vrishni, is playing an integral role in extending support for the Yatra’s successful organisation.

Speaking about the upcoming edition, Gopal Singh Chouhan, Founder of Rajasthan Kabir Yatra and Malang Folk Foundation, said, “The Rajasthan Kabir Yatra is more than an event—it is a movement of remembrance and connection. It allows us to revisit the wisdom of our mystic poets and re-root ourselves in traditions that have always spoken of unity, harmony and love. Each year, as yatris and villagers come together, we witness not just performances but a living satsang—a celebration of life itself. This Yatra is our humble effort to honor folk artists, revive fading traditions and create a shared space of oneness.”