Poetry on stage once again
27 Feb 2013 1:19 AM GMT
Celebrating cultural unity and oneness in spirit, Jahan-e-Khusrau festival is back with its12th edition. So get set to be enthralled by the poetry of mystics, soulful music and traditional dances.
‘We began Jahan-e-Khusrau in 2001 as a prayer to peace, to celebrate the composite culture of this great nation in its Capital. Since then, we have not looked back. It has had a snowballing effect, not just in the city, but in the entire country. Sufi singing became popular and people opened their hearts to the poetry of the mystics- as a balm of love. It has attracted talent from across the world and India delighting audiences unfailingly each year,’ says Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit.
Presented by Rumi Foundation and designed and directed by filmmaker-painter-designer Muzzafar Ali, Jahan-e-Khusrau is a platform that brings together artistes from across the globe and binds them together in their mutual love for Sufiana music and dance.
‘We try to find new work and voices and reinvent old voices and present them without any affectation or device. It is a very simple tribute that comes from our heart,’ explains Muzzafar Ali, who has been associated with the festival as its creative director. Talking about the global nature of the festival, he says: ‘It is just a part of the free-flowing mindset and we are doing it to connect people.’
The objective of the festival is to build a bridge between the East and the West and to harp on the universalism of music and dance.
The artistes performing this year at the festival are Malini Awasthi celebrating Nazeer Akbarabadi with Astha Dixit, Deveshi Sahgal, Ustad Shafqat Ali Khan, Pernia Qureishi, celebrating Khanaqah-e-Niyazia with Sonam Kalra and Abida Parveen.
Sufi music has a way of touching your heart and soothing your soul. Talking about her association with Sufi music and festival, Astha Dixit says: ‘Ever since I started working with Sufi poetry, I feel that I’ve found my own voice.’ ‘In dance and music, there is nothing modern or traditional, there is just eternal,’ she adds.
‘Sufi is not just music. It is a language. It is a message. When it comes in form of melody, it becomes a song,’ says Shafqat Ali Khan.
Talking about Jahan-e-Khusrau, he says: ‘I’ve performed in many festivals but this one is very close to my heart. The peacefulness that surrounds me when I work with Muzzarfar Ali is unparalleled.’
Don’t miss out on this three-day festival.
DETAIL
At: Arab ki Sarai, Humayun’s Tomb
When: 1-3 March
Timings: 6.30 pm onwards
For invites: Kotwara, DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj, Music Shop & Neemrana Shop, Khan Market
‘We began Jahan-e-Khusrau in 2001 as a prayer to peace, to celebrate the composite culture of this great nation in its Capital. Since then, we have not looked back. It has had a snowballing effect, not just in the city, but in the entire country. Sufi singing became popular and people opened their hearts to the poetry of the mystics- as a balm of love. It has attracted talent from across the world and India delighting audiences unfailingly each year,’ says Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit.
Presented by Rumi Foundation and designed and directed by filmmaker-painter-designer Muzzafar Ali, Jahan-e-Khusrau is a platform that brings together artistes from across the globe and binds them together in their mutual love for Sufiana music and dance.
‘We try to find new work and voices and reinvent old voices and present them without any affectation or device. It is a very simple tribute that comes from our heart,’ explains Muzzafar Ali, who has been associated with the festival as its creative director. Talking about the global nature of the festival, he says: ‘It is just a part of the free-flowing mindset and we are doing it to connect people.’
The objective of the festival is to build a bridge between the East and the West and to harp on the universalism of music and dance.
The artistes performing this year at the festival are Malini Awasthi celebrating Nazeer Akbarabadi with Astha Dixit, Deveshi Sahgal, Ustad Shafqat Ali Khan, Pernia Qureishi, celebrating Khanaqah-e-Niyazia with Sonam Kalra and Abida Parveen.
Sufi music has a way of touching your heart and soothing your soul. Talking about her association with Sufi music and festival, Astha Dixit says: ‘Ever since I started working with Sufi poetry, I feel that I’ve found my own voice.’ ‘In dance and music, there is nothing modern or traditional, there is just eternal,’ she adds.
‘Sufi is not just music. It is a language. It is a message. When it comes in form of melody, it becomes a song,’ says Shafqat Ali Khan.
Talking about Jahan-e-Khusrau, he says: ‘I’ve performed in many festivals but this one is very close to my heart. The peacefulness that surrounds me when I work with Muzzarfar Ali is unparalleled.’
Don’t miss out on this three-day festival.
DETAIL
At: Arab ki Sarai, Humayun’s Tomb
When: 1-3 March
Timings: 6.30 pm onwards
For invites: Kotwara, DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj, Music Shop & Neemrana Shop, Khan Market
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