The three best singers were given cash prizes. National Heritage and Integration Secretary Asaf Ghafoor was the chief guest on the occasion.
“Sufi saints in the sub continent have contributed a lot towards spreading love, peace and harmony. They played an important role in spreading and preserving the inner spirit of Islam. They were indeed the men of high moral characters,” said the secretary while talking to the audience.
“The concept of equality and brotherhood preached by Sufis attracted a large number of people to the teachings of Islam and adopting their values is the need of the hour,” he added.
Lok Virsa Executive Director Khalid Javaid explained that the event, besides the contest, had two other components — launching of online resource centre and a documentary screening.
The resource centre, titled “Tareeqat: seven elements of living Sufism in Pakistan”, will focus on everyday spirituality and will provide access to spiritual
teachings, music, imagery and folklore.
The documentary, “The Hidden Faces of Pakistan: 100 years of Spiritual Heritage”, will familiarise the youth with rich spiritual heritage that once thrived in the region and is fast receding.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 3rd, 2012.
COMMENTS (2)
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Thank you Mehergarh, Lok Virsa and PTV for organizing this wonderful event for our youth. We need positive activities for all of us, especially our youth. The web based resource center: www.livingsufism.org is a very good initiative by Mehergarh: A Center for learning. It will provide information on our Sufi saints, Sufi music, Spiritual images etc, to introduce our youth to Sufism.
We need more organizations like Mehergarh, Lok Virsa & PTV and more individuals like Dr. Kamran Ahmad and Dr. Fouzia Saeed who go out of their way to work with those who will lead this country tomorrow!
It is again not letting me post it. Remember last time you helped me?
Again, we are manipulating sufism with religion, which are two completely different concepts. Sufism can't be defined but lived, it's free from all labels including that of religion. that's what we need to convey to the younger generations, not pollute their minds with the habit of labeling everything. we need to learn to look beyond what is materialistic.