Sufi night: Mystical songs and messages of peace, love play to music aficionados

Qurban Niazi, brother of late Ustad Tufail Niazi, was the highlight of the show.

RAWALPINDI: The city’s Sufi poetry and music lovers were treated to a mystical evening by popular folk singers that had come to the city especially for a Sufi night at the Rawalpindi Arts Council.

With an aim to spread the messages of love, peace and brotherhood, the Sufi singers had everyone glued to their seats till the last performance.

Popular folk singer Qurban Niazi and his Virsa Musical Group including Fiaz Miran, Umair Niazi, Abid Ali, Mehboob Rizwan, Riaz Hussain Hussain, Aslam Lohar, Aslam Perwaiz, Shahid, Zainab and Meena Gull  performed at the venue.

However poetry and song was not the only entertainment at the show. Instrumental music using the dhol, chimta (tongs), yaktara (a string instrument), and the harmonium was also memorable as the expert musicians matched beat with beat, while the audience swayed to the rhythm.

The star of the show was Qurban Niazi, brother of late Ustad Tufail Niazi. He came in dancing to the beat of lively music, while his brightly collared costume had many whipping out their cell phones to snap pictures. The performance lasted well past its scheduled end, and even those with children seemed reluctant to leave the venue, despite it being way past the children’s bedtimes.

Chief guest and RAC Director Naheed Manzoor highlighted the importance of spreading the message of Sufism, especially given the situation in the country. She also deplored the increase in unhealthy materialism in society.

“Peace can only be achieved if society lets go of petty differences and material gains, we need to curb this now more than ever,” she said.

RAC Resident Director Waqar Ahmed said that the message of Sufism, if heeded, will help bring peace to the society.

The night ended with a memorable performance by Qurban Niazi as he got up to perform a whirling dervish to the music.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 11^th, 2012.