HYDERABAD: Several hundred cultu­­ral activists went into a trance when classical and folk artists, including Sheema Kermani, started their performances on Friday evening on the first day of the three-day festival, Sindh Sufi Melo, organised by the Auqaf department at Hyderabad Club. Minister for Auqaf Faraz Dero inaugurated the event.

Youths thronged the wide space of the club’s garden where several stages set up with musical systems carried names of Sufis, including Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi, Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, Sachal Sarmast, Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, Fakir Qadir Bukhsh Bedil, Sultan Bahoo, Shah Inayat Shaheed and others.

Stalls carrying books, sweets, clothes, gifts, henna and other items were established as well. Art gallery carrying paintings and pictures of Sufis and others also attracted visitors.

“Mysticism is to motivate and develop diversity. Many stages were set up to represent several dargahs (shrines) and Sufis (saints) of the country.

We are not forcing people to wear traditional ajrak or Sindhi cap. Pushing society [towards] a single phenomenon does not create peace; that practice is anti-culture,” University of Art and Culture Jamshoro Vice Chancellor and cultural activist Dr Fatah said.

He said people should tolerate all cultures and opinions of all bents of mind.

Cultural activists fell into ecstasy as Sufi music mesmerised them, and they started moving while holding their hands up, heads down and shutting their eyes.

Most of them wore traditional dresses while some of them wrapped yellow scarves around their necks wearing long ‘Rumi caps’.

Literary discussion

“Ishq (love) and beauty are the two sides of the same coin; if there is no love in the world, there is nothing except for soil,” Dr Sughra Sadaf said in a literary discussion moderated by Munawar Ali Mahesar.

Rumi Foundation chairman Dr Burhan­uddin Ahmed said love started where wisdom ended.

Those who knew themselves knew Allah and this was the first step towards Sufism, he added.

Noted classic dancer and choreographer Sheema Kermani said the melo (festival) aimed at highlighting Sufi culture of Sindh.

It was a pluralistic and diverse theme which was the beauty of culture. This is the dharti (land) of all people regardless of race, colour, language as all people — Hindus, Christians, Shias, Sunnis and others live here happily.

“Dance and music is part of Sindhi culture and it should not be stopped,” she concluded.

Raheem Leghari and Majid Bhurgari also participated in the discussion.

Earlier, after inaugurating the festival, the minister for Auqaf said the festival was aimed at promoting Sufi culture and inculcating the message of Sufis encompassing tolerance, love, brotherhood etc.

Answering questions, he said conspiracies were being hatched to defame the Sindh government, but it was not taking any revenge.

He alleged that the federal government was taking revenge while the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had adopted double standards.

Published in Dawn, December 15th, 2018