Make this weekend memorable by attending a Sufi music fest amidst nature, which will uplift your spirit and give you a crash course on why God loves masti
Make this weekend memorable by attending a Sufi music fest amidst nature, which will uplift your spirit and give you a crash course on why God loves masti
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Sufi musicians (from left) Mojtaba Kalantari and Vahid Airian. pics/ anil naik |
Seated in their cozy flat at Kalyani Nagar are two Iranian musicians Mojtaba Kalantari and Vahid Airian. They are immersed in preparations for their upcoming Sufi music concert, Baarish, which has been organised by Aperture India. The duo will wow audiences with their rendition of an ancient form of spiritual music used to express love for God. While Vahid plays the Tamboor, Mojtaba plays the Setar and Daff, which are typical Iranian instruments.
Elaborating on the principle behind Sufism, Mojtaba states, "Sufism is the mystical offshoot of Islam and the oldest form of Persian spiritual music. This genre of music helps relax the mind and uplifts the soul."
Mojtaba and Vahid have been performing Sufi music for the past 15 years and have spent all of two years in the city. From time-to-time, they travel to cities like Mumbai and Delhi for concerts. "We love collaborating with Indian musicians," adds Vahid. He has a Masters in Sociology while Mojtaba is a civil engineer currently studying for an MBA. Together, they also have a band called Alo, a traditional Persian Sufi band whose music features an improvisation of the poems of Rumi and Hafiz.
The event will also feature a performance by Ahmednagar-based artist Pawan Naik, who has trained in the Gwalior gharana and learnt under Dr Vikas Kashalkar. For Naik, Sufi music means Fana or total surrender to God and Masti (divine enjoyment).
Pawan will be singing songs like Allah Ho Allah and Mast Kalandar while the Iranian team will be rendering songs by Hafiz, Maulana and Khayyam.
At: Empress Garden, near Race Course.
On: November 28, from 6:30 pm
Call: 32416857
Entry: Coupons worth Rs 500, Rs 300 and Rs 150 are available at Aperture India, first floor, Connaught Place, near Wadia College, Bund Garden Road.
Email: apertureindia@gmail.com
