MADONNA in INDIA

Madonna and her family welcomed the New Year under the stars in a remote camp in the Rajasthani desert being entertained by a troupe of dancing horses. The Queen of Pop spent many hours trekking through the desert riding a thoroughbred Marwari horse – bred by the ancient rulers of Rajasthan and famed for their stamina, bravery and loyalty – Madonna waved to her children before galloping off in a cloud of dust. The remote camp is located close to a 19th century fort where the family had been staying. Madonna and her husband Guy Ritchie arrived in India from the Maldives on a chartered Kingfisher jet on December 31 with all of their children in tow.
She celebrated the New Year being entertained in the desert by traditional dancers and folk singers. "Madonna spent New Year's Eve with her family at a wilderness camp in the desert," said Siddarth Singh, whose family owns the nearby Rohetgarh Fort where they have been staying and helped organize the entertainment. "Madonna was comfortably dressed in Western clothes for the evening and enjoyed the dance performances along with her family." The evening included traditional Rajasthani folk music, with performances by Langa, Manganiar and Kalbelia dancers. "There was a dancing horse show too," added Mr. Singh. "Traditional food was served at the party. Madonna had vegetable curries and fish, while her son and husband stuck to vegetables only. Later all of them danced with folk artistes into the wee hours. In the morning a special horse show was organized at Khandi, a village near Rohetgarh. "Madonna and her son enjoyed the horse ride and seemed very comfortable interacting with the local people. No one even realized she was an A-list celebrity."