Grammy-nominated Indian-American rapper, singer, and songwriter Raja Kumari has received a nomination at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards (2026) as a featured artist on composer-producer Siddhant Bhatia’s Sounds of Kumbha, which has been recognized in the Best Global Music Album category.
About Sound of Kumbha
Released in November 2025, Sounds of Kumbha stands as a transcendent body of work inspired by the Mahakumbha festival, a centuries-old celebration of divinity and human unity. Conceptualized and led by Siddhant Bhatia, the album brings together Indian and international artists to create a soundscape that channels both ritual and revelation, merging the sacred resonance of ancient India with the pulse of modern global music.
For Raja Kumari, this nomination holds special meaning. Known globally for her powerful fusion of Indian classical roots with hip-hop and pop, she has been increasingly drawn to devotional and introspective expression most recently through her 2024 album Kashi to Kailash, her first spiritual project. Sounds of Kumbha became a continuation of that journey, allowing her to weave movement, rhythm, and divinity into a collective sound that felt deeply personal.
The artist recalls recording her vocals just before leaving for the actual Kumbh Mela, a moment that felt serendipitous. It was during this period of creation and reflection that her path crossed with Siddhant Bhatia, leading to a collaboration grounded in shared intent and reverence. “I remember telling Siddhant, Kumbh is never over for me,” she shares. “This album carries that spirit, it was made with no expectation, no attachment, just devotion. To see it reach the Grammys is a reminder that what’s created in faith always finds its way.”
This marks Raja Kumari’s second Grammy nomination, her first came as a songwriter for Iggy Azalea and it arrives at a pivotal moment in her evolution as an artist. For someone who began as a classical dancer before becoming a global voice in hip-hop, Sounds of Kumbha feels like a full-circle moment: a return to her roots, transformed through experience.
As she prepares to perform Kashi to Kailash at cultural stages like NMACC, the nomination reaffirms her commitment to exploring the intersection of sound, spirituality, and storytelling, a realm where Raja Kumari continues to build a bridge between India’s soul and the world’s stage.
