Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Power and Beauty

By Staff Reporter, *Sufiana traditions at Arab-ki-Sarai* - Deccan Herald - India; Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Delhi’s very popular Sufi Music festival ‘Jahan-e-Khusrau’ held to commemorate the death anniversary of Hazrat Amir Khusrau - was held recently and enthralled lovers of the tradition.

Designed and directed by filmmaker-turned-painter Muzaffar Ali, the festival is held in the lawns of Humayun’s Tomb, where Khusrau is said to have started the qawwali tradition in AD 13th century.

In its 10th year now, the festival has become the world’s biggest confluence of Sufi artistes and in keeping with tradition, it hosted the biggest names Abida Parveen (who has been returning to this festival every year); actor Ali Zafar and the well-known Hans Raj Hans.

“Sufism has the power and beauty to lead us towards a global family where traditions and religions blend in love. ‘Jahan-e-Khusrau’ is an attempt to integrate all voices in a collective prayer for peace and sacred oneness,” notes Ali, the brain behind the festival.

Notably, Ali has selected each and every composition that was rendered by artistes.
Singer Vidhi Sharma flagged off the festival with a beautiful recital of Amir Khusrau’s poems, Jab yaar dekha nain bhar and Yaar ko hamne ja baja dekha.

She was followed by Shivani Varma and Vidha Lal who performed Kathak to Rajesh Pandey’s renditions of Sakal ban phool rahi sarson, Nizam tori soorat ke Balihari and Chal Khusrau aapne saanjh bhai chaudes. The last act of the day saw Hans Raj Hans deliver powerful compositions Raakho mori laaj Gharib Nawaz, Garaj baras, Dil mein sanam kada tha and Lab par khuda khuda tha, among others.

The second evening was begun by vocalist Indira Naik who enchanted the audience with Man kunto Maula and Main aapka deewana hoon Mehboob-e-Ilahi. As she sang Chhap tilak sab chheen li re all those present erupted in joy and danced to the beats of the accompanying musicians. Muzaffar Ali’s son, Murad Ali gave a superb recitation of Rumi poetry in Italian, accompanied by renowned Italian flautist Andrea Griminelli.

Actor and singer Ali Zafar whose compositions Husn par tere fida hoon kya karoon, Daastan-e-ishq, Mai ni me, Allah hu and Ni mai jaanaan, among others, drew thunderous applause.

The best it would seem is always reserved for the last. On the third day, dancers Zia Nath, Ankur Ballal, Dilip Tambe and Sanatan Chakravarty first presented ‘Sufi Splendour’, a confluence of Odissi temple dances and the tradition of Whirling Dervishes.

The last performance of the three day fest was reserved for Abida Parveen, the world renowned Pakistani singer, who has been an integral part of Jahan-e-Khusrau since its inception and weaves her magic year after year at this gathering.

This year Abida sang numerous compositions like Na alfaz pahonche, Aashiq hoon tera taalib-e-deedar and Mulk-e Khuda, among others. Accompanying her were renowned sarangi maestro Murad Ali Khan and Aakash Daf from India and Karam Hussain (Dholak), Manzoor Hussain (Harmonium) and Nazir Khan (Tabla) from Pakistan.

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Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Power and Beauty
By Staff Reporter, *Sufiana traditions at Arab-ki-Sarai* - Deccan Herald - India; Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Delhi’s very popular Sufi Music festival ‘Jahan-e-Khusrau’ held to commemorate the death anniversary of Hazrat Amir Khusrau - was held recently and enthralled lovers of the tradition.

Designed and directed by filmmaker-turned-painter Muzaffar Ali, the festival is held in the lawns of Humayun’s Tomb, where Khusrau is said to have started the qawwali tradition in AD 13th century.

In its 10th year now, the festival has become the world’s biggest confluence of Sufi artistes and in keeping with tradition, it hosted the biggest names Abida Parveen (who has been returning to this festival every year); actor Ali Zafar and the well-known Hans Raj Hans.

“Sufism has the power and beauty to lead us towards a global family where traditions and religions blend in love. ‘Jahan-e-Khusrau’ is an attempt to integrate all voices in a collective prayer for peace and sacred oneness,” notes Ali, the brain behind the festival.

Notably, Ali has selected each and every composition that was rendered by artistes.
Singer Vidhi Sharma flagged off the festival with a beautiful recital of Amir Khusrau’s poems, Jab yaar dekha nain bhar and Yaar ko hamne ja baja dekha.

She was followed by Shivani Varma and Vidha Lal who performed Kathak to Rajesh Pandey’s renditions of Sakal ban phool rahi sarson, Nizam tori soorat ke Balihari and Chal Khusrau aapne saanjh bhai chaudes. The last act of the day saw Hans Raj Hans deliver powerful compositions Raakho mori laaj Gharib Nawaz, Garaj baras, Dil mein sanam kada tha and Lab par khuda khuda tha, among others.

The second evening was begun by vocalist Indira Naik who enchanted the audience with Man kunto Maula and Main aapka deewana hoon Mehboob-e-Ilahi. As she sang Chhap tilak sab chheen li re all those present erupted in joy and danced to the beats of the accompanying musicians. Muzaffar Ali’s son, Murad Ali gave a superb recitation of Rumi poetry in Italian, accompanied by renowned Italian flautist Andrea Griminelli.

Actor and singer Ali Zafar whose compositions Husn par tere fida hoon kya karoon, Daastan-e-ishq, Mai ni me, Allah hu and Ni mai jaanaan, among others, drew thunderous applause.

The best it would seem is always reserved for the last. On the third day, dancers Zia Nath, Ankur Ballal, Dilip Tambe and Sanatan Chakravarty first presented ‘Sufi Splendour’, a confluence of Odissi temple dances and the tradition of Whirling Dervishes.

The last performance of the three day fest was reserved for Abida Parveen, the world renowned Pakistani singer, who has been an integral part of Jahan-e-Khusrau since its inception and weaves her magic year after year at this gathering.

This year Abida sang numerous compositions like Na alfaz pahonche, Aashiq hoon tera taalib-e-deedar and Mulk-e Khuda, among others. Accompanying her were renowned sarangi maestro Murad Ali Khan and Aakash Daf from India and Karam Hussain (Dholak), Manzoor Hussain (Harmonium) and Nazir Khan (Tabla) from Pakistan.

No comments: