I had heard of Doctors without Borders and Reporters without Borders, but when I saw a headline in a Pakistani newspaper about Mystics without Borders, it was a first for me and certainly caught my attention.
It turns out a fascinating festival by the name of the “International Mystic Music Sufi Festival” is currently being celebrated in Karachi at the Bara Dari. The festival is being organized by the Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop, which is also the group that has been responsible for the popular World Performing Arts and Theatre Festival held annually in Lahore.
This Sufi festival is the first of its kind in Karachi and certainly an encouraging sign that people are able to express and share their sentiments, devotion, spirituality and passion in diverse ways. This festival is expected to last until May 7, and with an entrance fee of just Rs 300, it promises a lot of entertainment and education to Karachiites. According to the organizers, performers from over 70 countries have been invited to present their specialties in muslim sufi rituals, including music, songs and dances. There are performers from as far away as Syria which can be a delight to watch.
ATP has written before (here, here, here, here, here and here) on some of the great mystic poets and we wish to join the participants in this festival in spirit.
According to the media report:
Usman Peerzada of the Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop said that the group’s main aim had been to bring festivals to Pakistan since 1992 and now, as a result of their efforts, the World Performing Arts Festival had become the largest festival of Asia. “Festivals are living festivals and we aim to make the Sufi festival into just that. So please, own the festival,” he said in his address to the audience.
Daily Times spoke to Faizan Peerzada, the master-mind behind the show, to ask him what his audience could expect out of this festival. “A lot of variety. Some of these performers, like the Syrian performers can alone perform for four hours, but we have condensed it into a performance of 32 minutes so that we can manage 17 performances in one day. We have tried to bring together as many performers here as was possible and each one of them is performing a different Islamic tradition, so there’s a collection of so many aspects, which makes this festival unique.”
and the performances so far seem to have kept up to their high expectations:
The curtain raiser began with a performance by Zain-ul-Abideen Shah also known as Jumman Shah and his troupe of five people who sang a qafi by Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai. Their performance was followed by a mind-blowing performance by Mithoo and Goonga Saeein, who presented an instrumental using dhols while three of their members whirled around, representing the ecstasy so indispensable to the Sufi tradition. The next performance was by an Iranian four-member group called Bidaat, after which Kathak dancer Sheema Kirmani stole the show with her brilliant performance on Ameer Khusro’s aaj rang hai. With her group of two male dancers and two female, she brought the words to life and used the vacuum of the stage as a canvas portraying a beautiful painting that she successfully displayed to an audience that erupted in a round of applause for her.
Another one of the most appreciated performances of the curtain raiser was by Saeein Zahoor who performed a kalaam by Baba Bulleh Shah. Zahoor is a recipient of the BBC World Music Award and performed for an approximate 10 minutes, not a single second of which could be termed as a ‘drag’. A Syrian group called “Sham group of Syrian and Andalusian Music” performed next and recited verses from the Holy Quran.
We hope this Sufi Festival will become a local tradition, and that such art, folk, mystic, music, poetic, dance, and religious festivals will be held regularly in a city that still hosts one of the most diverse and culturally steeped citizenry.
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Dear Sir,
We take the pleasure to apprise that Masala Family Festival is being held from 26-27 May, 2012 at Karachi Expo Center. The Event is being jointly organized by HUM NETWORK & Ecommerce Gateway Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd. both are regarded as the largest Broadcasting Group & Event organizing company of Pakistan respectively.
The Event shall be provide an opportunity for the Consumers to experience the festivities of an International Festival while purchasing their favorite brands under one roof. The Festival shall include multiple activities to engage the 150,000+ audience visiting.
FESTIVAL FEATURES
• SHOPPING FESTIVAL: A Shopping paradise for the families visiting the event sections ranging from Textile & Garments, Consumer Electronics, Furniture, Home Decor, etc.
• KIDS ARENA: The festival shall engage the young audience by establishing an Exclusive Kids Arena which includes Magic Shows, Puppet Shows, Rides, Circus, etc.
• INTERNATIONAL FOOD COURT: The Food court shall represent all the cuisines from Pakistan and around the world including Chinese, Thai, Singaporean, American, Italian, etc.
• LIVE COOKING SHOW: Masala Family Festival shall call on all the Master Chefs and renowned Food Experts including Zubaida Apa, Shireen Apa, Chef Zakir, Chef Gulzar to unravel some wonderful dishes and unique tips.
• FIREWORKS: The Event shall have regular fireworks lighting up the night sky to add color to the festivities.
• LUCKY DRAWS: The audiences will enjoy gifts/prizes throughout the event by participating in the Lucky Draws being held at the expo
This world-class event is a platform for you to raise Brand Awareness and shout about your Newest Launches and Activity While Engaging The 150,000+ Potential Users/Consumers of Your Products/Services. We have developed a range of branding opportunities for every budget that will highlight your participation and deliver a timely message to a dedicated and receptive target audience.
Festival Secretariat, may please be contacted on 0313-2370074 through
Email: Shuja@ecgateway.net for any further information.
We look forward to welcome you at the Show.
With best regards
Sincerely
Shuja Uddin Siddiqui
+923132370074
The Management
Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop,
Lahore
Dear Sir(s),
With your graciousness I could perform twice in your festivals i.e. Sufi World Music Festival in 2000 and in 2001.
But I could not understand that why you have not given me further invitation for your next festival or for any calssical music concert(s).
Kindly oblige by your reply.
From,
Khan Master Naeem Hussain
Shahnai Nawaz,
House No. F-687, Near Wali Pan Shop,
Irani Camp, Sector No. 11, Orangi Town,
Karachi
Tel: 021-36663837
Mob: 0333-2281440
i m naviin from india & i play a uniq bow instrument called belabaharr which my father has invented wish to showcase my art of tabla & this instrument in karachi,its my dream to see & enjoy my music & it wud also b my privelege to b with people there interact & also touch the pakistan soil,inshahallah m hope ur reply on +919820207827
thanks regards
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HepqyIEzDBA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPja12NPpfA&feature =related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOJDbucUGt4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIP8c6twdqU
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Hi there,
I really appriciate your step towards sufism, its a true way to islam. I suggest you to have such type of program in lahore as well. That a great learning for Islamic youngersters.
Secondly i need a help to have a video of Iranian singers were being there in your program in Karachi.
Wait for your kind help/reply.
Best wishes
Ali
I just heard about a Sufi Music festival to be held in Pakistan from 24 to 27th April. Shall appreciate further details as well as website for this program. Do such programs’ mp3 recordings become available for downloads after the programs – at which websites?
Can anybody have the video CD of the program presented on
INTERNATIONAL MYSTIC SUFI FESTIVAL 2007
3rd to 7th May 2007
faisy2@gmail.com
Can anyone please reccomend a good book (in English) to catch up on the history of Sufism?