Listeners embarked on a journey to the world of love, surrender and wisdom at Ruhaniyat, the All India Sufi and Mystic Music Festival that Bangalore hosted recently. The well-attended evening began with Jagar rendered by Rakesh Bhatt and group from the Himalayas. Jagar is mostly performed to invoke blessings of one’s family deities and mysterious spirits, who are believed to have the powers to influence the progress of mankind. After that it was time to travel from the Himalayas to Rajasthan with Darra Khan.
He rendered a song on the greatness of regional mystic Badal Khan, who is believed to possess great healing powers. He also rendered Sant Kabir Das’s composition on the need to detach from the material world and awaken to attain peace by becoming one with the supreme being. The sounds of ‘sarangi’ and ‘dholak’ added to the mystic element. It was Khan’s first performance outside his habitat. Kachra Khan also from Rajasthan, presented a composition of Baba Bulleh Shah.
Next came West Bengal’s Parvathy Baul. Meditation in motion, best describes her presentation of the baul songs. Her performance was more about being in tune with the inner self rather than just song and dance. ‘Ektara’ and a drum were her accompaniments.
While Parvathy’s rendition of Akkamahadevi’s Akka kelavva naanonda kanasa kande… endeared her to the listeners, Sufiana Kalams by Vitthal Rao had people asking for more. Assam’s Sukhnani Ojhapalli group that has an oral tradition of nearly 900 years, also performed. Their rendition highlighted the complex web of social, cultural, psychological and spiritual emotions.
They narrated the story of Beoladevi, whose devotion makes Lord Shiv’s daughter Manasa Devi bring her husband Lakhendra back to life, despite having cursed him earlier. Jugal Ojha, the main story teller had compressed the story that is usually told throughout the night, to just 20 minutes.
Specific mudras were used for specific phrases during the narration.
‘Mystic drums’ by Siddhi Goma, who came to Gujarat from Africa 750 years ago, was the other item. Dancers used standing drums, wind pipes, long sticks and dhols to accompany their chants.
The performance had the artistes throw coconuts up in the air, jump 4-5 ft up and break them into pieces with their heads.The grand finale came in the form of ‘Sufi Qawwali’ by Shameen and Nayeem Ajmeri. There was no one in the crowd who escaped the jalwa of these maestros. They opened with a Kaul, in memory of Ali, which was followed by one of their most popular qawwalis, Alla Alla Allahoo.
Claps filled the air as they went on to unfold their power packed performance. Ruhaniyat, an initiative of Banyan Tree and was held in Bangalore for the second consecutive year.
