The circles of liberation

All India Markazi Majlis-e-Chistia (A.I.M.M.C.), a Sufi organisation in collaboration with Department of Tourism and Culture Government of Telangana, celebrated the fourth Annual International Sufi Festival, ‘Jashan-e-Khusrau’ for Universal Peace, Communal Harmony and National Integration.

The festival witnessed Sabeer Habeeb from Hyderabad making a mellifluous beginning by singing “Allah Hu Allah Hu”. He followed it by “Phool Khile Bagiyana Meh” in Raga Bahar.

After this Sabeer sang the popular composition “Tere Naam Se Jeelu,Tere Naam Se Mara Jau”, “Deewani Teri Deewani Mai Deewani”.

This was followed by a short recital of “Hai Sarkar Huzoor Nizamuddin” by Maqsood Ahmed Warsi. Then came the magical “Tanoura” Sufi movements by a team from Egypt.

Tanoura is all about the dervish form of dance with colorful skirts, swirling around in circles to reach inner purity.

The main thought behind this form of dance is to eliminate personal egos and desires; focus on the music and concentrate on God spinning one's body in repetitive circles, which is more or less a symbolic imitation of planets in the Solar system orbiting the sun.

The main concept is to liberate oneself from the present ‘space’ and reach the almighty. Muhammad Salah, Ezzdin Rashid and Mustafa Mohsil were the three performers who danced in gay abandon set to various rhythmic music beats and took the audience to a different world.

For those who missed the festival; on November 18, Suqan-e-Khusrau (Mushaira) will give a glimpse of the beauty of Sufi at Sama Khana Dargha Hazrath Shaik Ji Hali Ra, Urdu Shareef, Charkaman from 8pm onwards.