Music divine
Ruhaniyat, the Sufi music festival is back in the city. An Arabic group talks of how all music is like different branches of the same tree
REACHING OUT Sufi music is the doorway to reach God, believes the group from Egypt
For the spiritually thirsty and the searchers of bliss, this weekend promises music divine. Music lovers can have a lyrical tryst with some soul-stirring Sufi music as an exotic line-up of performers from remote villages to internationally acclaimed artists bring some celestially mystical music to the city.
Presented by Banyan Tree Events as part of their nationwide Sufi and mystic music festival titled ‘Ruhaniyat’, Bangalore’s music connoisseurs can witness this confluence of soulful music come alive this Sunday at Jayamahal Palace Hotel at 6.30 p.m.
Probably the only festival of its kind, the event has five diverse groups offering some of the rarest forms of Sufi and mystic music from across the world. This year’s highlight is an instrumental and vocal ensemble from Egypt specialised in classical Arabic music who will perform the traditional music of the Sufi mystics — the Arabic Sufiana Mausiqui.
Nandini Mahesh, director of Ruhaniyat, claims the event is a platform for traditional indigenous music groups to express their talent. “The people playing these forms of music are the carriers of tradition. There are no stars among them; they are real people. Their art is passed on by word of mouth through generations and we bring the magic of the saints and mystics alive through Ruhaniyat.”
The festival, being held for the ninth year across the country and the fourth year in India, also has Baul songs sung by Parvathy Baul from West Bengal, Kabirpanthi Nirguni songs by Prahlad Tipaniya and group from Madhya Pradesh, Sufi Kalam by Sawan Khan and group from Rajasthan, and Sufi Qawwali by Haji Timmu Gulfam and group from Jaipur.
Hailing from the hills of Al Humaymat…More
