Reaching out to the soul

"My master has planted in my heart the Jasmine of Allah’s name.
Both my denial that the creation is real and my embracing of God, the only reality, have nourished the seedling down to its core.
-When the buds of mystery unfolded into the blossoms of revelation, my rntire being was filled with God’s fragrance.
-May the perfect master who planted this Jasmine in my heart be ever blessed."

This is the psychedelic quest of Murshid or God which is the ultimate philosophy of Sufism. Recently Kolkata witnessed a three day musical quest for the ‘Murshid’ in the first ever International Sufi festival in Kolkata, held at Nicco Park, on Feb 4-6, 2011. Named as ‘Sufi Sutra’, the event was a grand success with more than 100 artists participating from Afghanistan, Egypt, Syria, Tajikistan, Iran, Bangladesh and India (6 states participated, Rajasthan, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Manipur and West Bengal). The Performances enthralled more than 30, 000 audiences with their scintillating performances. During the day, the workshops between the various music groups from the different countries led to exchange and sharing of their music, instruments, and philosophy, which was attended by more than 2500 audiences including youth, music lovers and musicians. An exhibition was also organized on Sufism.

The entire event was conceptualized by celebrated percussionist Tanmay Bose. “It was long timed planned. Sufi has strong connection with Bengal. Sufi Muslims used to sing bangla kawali at dargas. But we didn’t value the treasure and gradually it got relegated to oblivion. I wanted a revival of Sufi in Bengal as well as an international exposure for the Indian Sufi singers. My experience of international music helped me shortlist 14 countries who would perform at the event of which seven finally came and presented their music at Sufi Sutra together with the Indian musicians. It was once again proved that music transcends all barriers irrespective of language and region,” accounted Bose.

Participants included celebrated Sufi musicians and bands from both India and abroad. International performers like Baran Music Ensemble from Iran, Egyptian Mawlawyiah Troupe, team from Bangladesh led by Ms. Anusheh Anadil, team from Afghanistan led by Mr. Nawab Khan, Tahleeleh Troupe from Damascus, Syria were the cynosure of the soiree. While the home players like Mir musicians from Bikaner (Rajasthan) led by Vasu Khan, seven members Qawwali team from Rampur (UP) led by Haji Modh. Ahmad Khan Warsi, Warsi brothers from Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh), six members team from Delhi led by Dhruv Sangari and Baul & Fakiri, Bangla Qawwali from West Bengal had the audience humming the popular Sufi numbers with them and swaying in the ecstasy of the intoxicating intonations.

Mr. Amitabha Bhattacharya, the director of Banglanatak.com, the chief organizer of Sufi Sutra, regards the endeavor as a platform for the Bauls Fakirs of India for a proper scope to exchange, collaborate and open of a new global market through the International Sufi musicians. “This was a part of our initiative "Art for livelihood", which started in 2004 with the objective of making folk art primary sources of livelihood for the artists and through national and international exchange and collaboration.  EU came as partner in Dec 2009, when they supported our entire initiative, including this festival,” enunciated Bhattacharya.

The festival was a big hit in Kolkata as thousands of people thronged the grounds of Nicco Park to be a witness to the grand occasion. The audience saw the world’s best Sufi musicians performing live at a truly international festival with real international taste and flavor. “'Sufi' is important from both music and philosophy point of view and Kolkata being the 'leader in cultural plurality’; we feel there cannot be a better place than this city to host such festival. This evolved as a people's festival, rather than just another program, that's the success of this festival in Kolkata,” recollected Siddhanjan, a member of Banglanatak.com. “At this hour of political unrest we wanted the Bauls and Fakirs, the sufi musicians from the East, to convey the message of peace, love and brotherhood through their music. Their philosophy of rejecting the division of caste, creed, religion etc. and knowing God with profound admiration by self sacrificing and belief, is what needed to be proclaimed in today’s world,” further illustrated the young organizer.

Gulam Fakir, a resident of Murshidabad, worships music as his almighty. Proficient in Lalan Geeti, Murshidi and Darbari school of folk music, Gulam was a proud participant of the Sufi Sutra. “It’s the first of its kind in Kolkata, and we are fortunate to be a part of the music extravaganza. It was a great of my life to play the dotara while the international

Sufi artists sang the most divine Sufi numbers. Equally entertaining and learning was experience of singing while the global players accompanied us with their musical instruments. What enthralled me most is the predominance of the tune of ‘Ajan’(the Muslim call for prayer) in the songs that were sung by the international performers.” recalled Fakir. 

Avradip Saha, a fashion photographer and script writer by profession, has long association with Sufi as he says the music transports him to another level of ecstasy and realization. His love for Sufi brought him to Sufi Sutra on the last day of the event. “I got intoxicated listening to the Sufi numbers at the event. It was a grand occasion and I saw the performance of Bangladeshi Sufi singers. The group named Ajerbaijan rendered some scintillating numbers that stole the hearts of the listeners. The audience shook their legs in joie-de-vivre and I also joined them. But it would have been great if we could get to hear some Bengali Sufi songs. However the music was incredible,” enthused the young Sufi aficionado. .

While the Egyptian Mawlawyiah troupe enchanted all at the spot with their vibrant show of music and whirl dance, the Indian singers intoxicated the crowd with some popular numbers. In its process the event, instead of being only a string of performances triumphed to be an ultimate search to touch the divine light.