The Indian capital is set to witness national and international singers like Abida Parveen, Ali Zafar and Hans Raj Hans, Andrea Griminelli (Italian flautist) as well as some emerging talents at a three-day Sufi festival to be held from March 2-4.
Addressing reporters at a press conference, renowned singer Abida Parveen said that Sufism binds millions of people in the subcontinent and that the upcoming Jahan-e-Khusrau Festival — arranged by the Rumi foundation — is an effort to create a spiritual mood within the people. “Sufism has existed since the beginning of this universe. It bridges the gap between the hearts. This festival brings different colours together. It is an effort to create a spiritual context for the common people.”
Parveen has a huge fan following in India and she has been a part of the festival since the beginning, but she couldn’t attend the festival last year due to health reasons. “Tasawuf (a Sufi term that means focusing on one’s spiritual development) is God’s name. We don’t need any language or identity to understand Allah,” added the singer.
Meanwhile, upon choosing Delhi as the venue, acclaimed film-maker and poet, Muzafar Ali, who is also the director of the festival, feels, “Delhi is the city of saints and it calls for the union of souls”.
“We have been organising this festival for the past 10 years and each year we present at least 20-30 new and exclusive poems sung by eminent Sufi singers like Abida Parveen,” he added.
(with additional information from TOI)
Published in The Express Tribune, March 1st, 2012.
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