Devotees from across the country visited the shrine in Bhit Shah, near Hyderabad. Lights draped over the building glittered and flickered while the music gathered momentum throughout the evening.
Disciples recited their own renditions of his Sufi poetry and songs were sung in different languages, including Seraiki, Punjabi and Persian.
The saint’s birth anniversary is celebrated with literary and cultural gatherings by musicians, poets, artists and followers who follow his message of love and peace.
The music that resounds at the urs, and the way it is played, holds a distinct place not only in the musical heritage of Pakistan but that of the subcontinent.
Starting with the melodies of the harmonium and the tabla, the beat takes a different direction when fakirs pick up their tambooras, a long-necked stringed instrument said to have been invented by Bhittai himself.
Renowned fakir musicians have taken forward the Sufi trend of playing the tamboora. These men include the late Allan Fakir and the current sensation Saeen Zahoor, who since his debut at Coke Studio has been travelling the world with his tamboora.
The dhamaal, dancing to the beat of drums, too is a regular feature of Sufi celebrations across the country.
Shah Latif’s musical asset
Bhittai is one of the greatest Sufi poets of Sindh. He has left behind a large collection of spiritual writings and for the music lovers, he has left the tamboora. The shape of the tamboora resembles that of the sitar, but it has no frets, as only the open strings are played.
The instrument is not known for the vibration of its strings but is loved by the musicians for the spirituality attached to it. Ahsan Iqbal Bari, a composer and teacher, told The Express Tribune that the tamboora is more popular for its philosophical and spiritual feel than for its unique sound. The overall makeup of the instrument in itself advocates unity, he said.
“Technically speaking, there is no rocket science behind the tamboora. It’s just a piece of wood with strings attached to it but the great part about the instrument is that it produces sound in unison. All the strings might produce a different individual sound but when played together, they reach the same level of sur,” he explained.
Talking about the contribution of the instrument to the folk culture of Pakistan, Bari said that the difference between the folk music of Sindh and Punjab is of sweetness - Sindhi folk music is soothing to hear while Punjabi music is heavier and faster.
“It is the message of such saints [like Bhittai] that gave Indus Valley civilisation its distinct sound and through the tamboora, the tranquility of Sindh’s folk music is still alive,” said Bari.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 20th, 2011.
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